Sharma assures fasting wives of looking into their case

Guwahati, Apr 1 (UNI) Cabinet Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma today reiterated the government's assurance to the fasting wives of the 'missing' ULFA leaders of taking up the matter of their husbands' whereabouts.

Earlier, Education Minister Ripon Bora had issued a press statement from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to this effect.

Wives of the five ULFA leaders had been on an indefinite hunger strike since March 21 at the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital(MMCH) here.

The ULFA leaders had gone missing since 'Operation All Clear' in December 2003 which was launched against them in neighbouring Bhutan by the Royal Bhutan Army.

''Though the hunger strike is yet to be called off, two of the striking women, whose health was deteriorating, agreed to be put on saline today,'' he added.

Mr Gogoi had assured them of taking up the issue through the statement.

The Gauhati High Court had also fixed the timeframe of mid-April for submitting the particulars of the missing ULFA leaders.

Mr Sharma further informed that a special team of four doctors and two attendants has been commissioned to monitor the health of the striking ULFA leaders' wives.

The women were forcibly admitted to the MMCH late on March 28 as their health showed signs of deterioration and they refused to call-off the hunger strike.

UNI