Anti-ULFA operations to be intensified: PM

Dibrugarh, Jan 16: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced operations against the banned ULFA will be further intensified.

'"An entire brigade has been moved to the state limits to gear up anti-insurgency action in Upper Asom," he told reporters at Mohanbari airport here, after reviewing the security scenario in the aftermath of the ULFA-triggered serial attacks in Upper Asom in which 60 people, mostly migrant labourers, were killed.

"The Unified Command structure, monitoring the counter-insurgency operations in the state, will be headed by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi from now," he further announced.

Dr Singh also visited the affected families in the worst-hit Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts earlier.

The Prime Minister said he had taken up the matter of ULFA and other militant groups of the Northeast taking shelter in neighbouring Myanmar with his Myanmarese counterpart during the ASEAN summit.

"I talked to the Myanmar Prime Minister on the issue yesterday and he has assured me of all co-operation, if adequate information is provided," he explained.

Dr Singh, however, said doors were always open for any insurgent group, including ULFA, for talks if they were willing to abjure violence.

"Our willingness for talks should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness," he cautioned, adding that the government was committed to providing security to its people.

UNI