ULFA calls 12-hr Assam bandh on Feb 19

Guwahati, Feb 17 (UNI) The ULFA has called for a 12-hour Assam bandh on February 19 demanding immediate release of human right activist Lachit Bardoloi as well as protesting against the ''hijack blame''.

ULFA chairman Auronbindo Rajkhowa stated that the outfit had never planned to hijack any plane and was a fabricated by the government.

Police had arrested Bardoloi for allegedly conspiring with other arrested ULFA leaders to hijack an Indian plane.

An Air Deccan employee and a journalist besides two ULFA militants were also arrested in this connection.

''On the one side the government talks of peace and on the other side arrests those who help in intitiating peace process,''he said.

Mr Bardoloi is a member of the People's Consultative Group (PCG), a group set up by ULFA, to iniatiate peace process with the Centre.

UNI MT PP RN1721