Centre to launch offensive against ULFA

New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) The Centre today reviewed the security situation in Asom and decided to launch an all-out offensive against the United Liberation Front of Asom which has killed about 70 people in the upper region of the state.

Home Secretary V K Duggal, who chaired a high-level meeting attended by Asom Chief Secretary P C Sharma and Director General of Police Mathur, told reporters here, ''Situation is under control but nevertheless, the needed army operation is going on. Patrolling has been intensified and confidence building measures among all communities both Asomese and non-Asomese is being taken,'' he said.

He said three ULFA cadres had been neutralised recently while 16 insurgents were arrested and a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered following operations. However, the aim was not to kill but to restore the public confidence and law and order. Operation had already been launched and it was going on.

Mr Duggal said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with Home Minister Shivraj Patil would visit the violence-affected region of Asom on January 16 and have one-to-one interaction with the families of the victims of the serial attacks. Defending Mr Patil's not visiting the state immediately after the attacks, the home secretary said that it would have diverted the police and security apparatus.

Emphatically denying any lack of clarity in the Centre's policy towards ULFA, Mr Duggal said, ''There is no lack of will whatsoever.

Our policy towards ULFA is clear and so is our strategy. Our policy is that we are willing to hold talk to anyone who desires so, while the strategy is that if any outfit indulges in acts of violence, it would be dealt with firmly. There is no dilly-dallying or lack of clarity.'' Mr Duggal said the confidence building measures and all other actions were being taken so that all the communities felt safe and secure. He said that of the 8000 people living in camps, 3000 had already gone back. He said there were initially some people going back but it was due to the fact that brick kiln work is seasonal.

Trying to allay the apprehensions about the possible disruption of National Games to be held in Guwahati in February, Mr Duggal said it was the most prestigious event for the state and all steps were being taken for it to be held peacefully. The infrastructure work was being completed and the contractor would hand over it to the state government next week and other preparations were also going on.

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