The Hindu : National : Gogoi sees `foreign hand' behind Dhemaji killings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 20, 2004

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National

Gogoi sees `foreign hand' behind Dhemaji killings

By Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI, AUG. 19. The Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, today alleged that the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was playing into the hands of foreign agencies to create terror in the State.

Dubbing the rebel group as a "band of mercenaries," Mr. Gogoi said the ULFA had been indulging in mass killing out of "frustration" as it had lost its support base.

Referring to the killing of schoolchildren in a bomb blast on August 15 in Dhemaji district, he told reporters that while the militant outfit used to go for selective targets earlier, it was now indulging in mass killing at the instance of foreign agencies.

`ULFA isolated'

The widespread public protests throughout the State against the incident had proved that the militant outfit had lost its base among the people and stood isolated. The message should go loud and clear that people would no longer remain silent spectators to the mindless killings perpetrated by the banned outfit.

The State Government would also mobilise public opinion against its violent activities, Mr. Gogoi added.

Earlier, during a discussion with editors of local dailies this morning, he said the Government had kept the doors open for talks with militant outfits. At the same time, it would not tolerate any attempts by them to disturb peace and retard the process of development. "Let good sense dawn upon the militant outfit to honour the wishes and aspirations of the people and to come forward for peaceful solution of the problem through talks."

The killing of innocent children and women at Dhemaji was an indicator of ULFA's desperate bid to prove its existence. "Let the Dhemaji incident be the end to the reign of terror unleashed by ULFA and this should reverberate through the length and breadth of the State," Mr. Gogoi said.

`Strengthen intelligence'

The editors, while strongly denouncing the Dhemaji incident, urged Mr. Gogoi to gear up the law and order machinery and strengthen the intelligence network to thwart the sinister designs of extremist outfits. They felt that the Government should go ahead in procuring sophisticated equipment to detect IEDs to prevent the loss of life and property.

Later in the day, a meeting of senior citizens held here issued a clarion call for building up strong public resistance against extremist violence.

AASU protest

The activists of the All-Assam Students Union today burnt effigies of the Chief Minister in different parts of the city to protest against police excess during a 12-hour bandh called by the student body on Wednesday in protest against the Dhemaji killings.

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