Pro-talks bodies intensify campaign in Asom

Guwahati, Apr 6 (UNI) Ahead of outlawed ULFA's 'Raising Day' tomorrow, pro-talks organisations today stepped up their campaign to press the government to release the top five jailed ULFA leaders for resumption of peace parleys and disclose the whereabouts of 'missing' cadres.

As many as nine activists of the People's Committee for Peace Initiative in Asom (PCPIA), a conglomerate of several pro-talks organisations, today sat on an indefinite strike even as the indefinite hunger strike of the six 'missing ULFA leaders' wives entered the 17th day.

Jailed ULFA cadres have also started resorting agitation across different prisons in the state in support of the demand of the striking wives of the missing leaders to divulge the whereabouts of their husbands.

The PCPIA had warned of intensifying its agitation to press for their demands, including release of the top five jailed ULFA leaders to pave the way for resumption of peace talks, disclosing whereabouts of the cadres who had been missing since 'Operation All Clear' in December, 2003, in Bhutan and stop alleged atrocities by the security forces in the name of anti-insurgency operations.

PCPIA convener Birinchi Neog said, ''Our activists have started the indefinite strike to show solidarity to the fasting wives of the ULFA leaders. The PCPIA will take further agitations if the government fails to respond positively.'' Another PCPIA member and People's Consultative Group (PCG) member Dilip Patgiri added that the PCPIA had started agitation to mount pressure on the government across the state.

He said, ''We already held demonstrations at Lakuwa, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur and various other places.'' MORE UNI