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More than a law and order problem: Gogoi

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 10. The Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, today accused militant organisations of indulging in largescale killings of Hindi-speaking people in the recent spate of violence in the State. He charged the Central Minister, Bijaya Chakraborty, with "instigating" the All-Assam Students Union to call a 24-hour bandh.

At a press conference here, Mr. Gogoi said the United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland indulged in killings. He had written to the Centre to conduct a CBI inquiry.

Mr. Gogoi said he did not have adequate security forces to deal with the situation. Now, the Centre had approved 30 companies for Assam, in addition to the 111 sent earlier. "I am satisfied with it but would be happier, if I had more men," he said.

It was not a normal law and order situation but insurgency, for which the State police force were not equipped to deal with. The border with Myanmar was unguarded and there were problems in Meghalaya, Nagaland, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh and it was Assam that bore the brunt.

Mr. Gogoi said his Government was assessing the damage and a detailed report would be sent to the Centre for financial assistance. The situation was under control and only 3,000 Bihari were now left in relief camps. The basic problem of unrest in the northeast stemmed from unemployment and lack of opportunities. Criticising the Centre's new economic policies, he said these had not addressed the issue of unemployment. Assam needed a special package for tackling unemployment.

Expressing happiness over the peaceful conduct of the Railway recruitment examination, Mr. Gogoi said the problem actually started after the Central Minister, Bijoya Chakraborty, and the State Bharatiya Janata Party president, Indramani Bora, visited the AASU office on November 15 and made "irresponsible statements."

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