Violence-riddled Assam shuts down on I-Day eve

Guwahati, Aug 14 (UNI) Violence-torn Assam today observed a total shutdown in protest against the massacre of 29 Hindi-speaking people in a series of orchestrated strikes by militants since August 8.

Separate 12-hour bandhs, called by the Opposition and an apex organisation of the state's Hindi-speaking populace, evoked complete response in both Brahmaputra and Barak valley, even as elaborate security arrangements were put in place for tomorrow's Independence Day celebration.

'' The response proves that there is no place for violence in Assam. People should unfurl the National flag to give a befitting reply to the insurgent outfits, which have called a boycott of the Independence Day, '' said Dharmadev Tiwari, general secretary of the Purvottar Hindustani Sammelan, which had also called the bandh.

The Sammelan was organising a rally in Guwahati tomorrow where its activists bearing National flags would march to the Judges' field - the venue of the state's central Independence Day function.

While the situation in the trouble-torn Karbi Anglong district continued to be tense with Hindi-speaking people fleeing the state in the wake of the terror strikes, there was no report of any untoward incident since yesterday.

Amid the bandh, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal sent out a strong note of warning to the insurgent outfits that the government would no longer tolerate violence.

'' Tough action will be taken against the insurgents. We will wipe out insurgency from the district, '' Mr Jaiswal, who led a high level MHA team to the state today, said.

Sending out similar tough signals, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, '' The security forces have been instructed to go all out against the militants. We will make sure that such incidents do not occur again. '' Yesterday, the Centre had rushed 15 additional companies of para-military forces to Karbi Anglong district after a strategy was chalked out to crack down on the militants.

'' You will see the results within a week, '' CPI(ML) leader Jayanta Rangpi quoted the Assam Governor as saying to a delegation of the political party.

The CPI(ML) delegation met the Governor last evening, seeking adequate security measures for the people of the hill district.

Over six militants outfits had been operating in the hill district which had seen the killing of over 300 people in the past five years in separate incidents of genocide.

The latest terror strikes had been blamed on the Karbi Longri Nationalist Liberation Front (KLNLF), while the ULFA was working in tandem with it to coordinate the strikes.

The hilly terrains and densely forested areas of the district had given a free run to the rebels, fighting for economic and political independence of the areas in the twin districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills.

Hundreds of panic-stricken Hindi-speakers had fled the state even as authorities gathered migrant workers into government-run shelters after the string of rebel attacks.

A government spokesman said two relief camps had been set up to shelter migrant workers, besides shifting more than 100 other families to safer areas to foil attempts by militants to target Hindi-speaking people.

Police averted another attack when they gunned down two KLNLF rebels, who were reportedly planning to strike at a secluded village in Bokajan.

On the other hand, police had been put on high alert in view of tomorrow' Independence Day.

Several rebel outfits of the region, including the ULFA, had already issued their 'ritualistic' boycott of the Independence Day.

Frisking and patrolling had been intensified, and round the clock vigil maintained in the parade grounds.

Security personnel and spotters in civvies have been deployed extensively across the state to thwart any sabotage attempt of the militants.

UNI