RS members voice concern over Assam killings by ULFA

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) Several members today protested against the killings of Hindi-speaking people by the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and said the centre must take concrete steps to stop them.

Mr Santosh Bagrodia of the Congress said the ULFA has been creating trouble in the northeastern state for the past two decades.

Many Hindi-speaking people -- mostly Biharis -- have been killed in recent years.

Due frequent terror strikes, economic activity in Assam has slowed down tremendously, he said during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr Ramdeo Bhandari of the RJD said 175 people have been killed by the ULFA since January. Hundreds of houses were burnt and the wave of terror still continues, he said.

Mr Kalraj Mishra of the BJP said ULFA rebels based in Bangladesh are being supported by the Pakistan-based ISI intelligence agency.

There are many Hindi-speaking people from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Rajastan who have been based in Assam for several decades.

Despite assurances from the centre, said Mr Mishra, there are only six police stations for 80,000 people in many areas of Assam.

UNI