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Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

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Assam attacks: Mulford offers FBI help

By Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI, OCT. 5. The U.S. Ambassador to India, David C. Mulford, today offered to provide technical expertise to the Assam Government in investigating bomb attacks by militants. He had made the same offer yesterday to the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil.

In his letter dated October 4, faxed by the U.S. Embassy this morning, Mr. Mulford wrote to Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would be pleased to provide technical support in the investigation.

"In this context, the United States has considerable expertise in investigative techniques including, for example, such areas as forensic analysis of explosive residues. Should you find it helpful, the FBI would be pleased to provide technical support for your investigation. I have also made this offer to Home Minister Shivraj Patil. I hope you will feel free to contact me if there is any other way that we can be helpful," the letter said.

National security

A copy of the letter was made available to reporters during a press conference addressed by Mr. Gogoi here this morning.

The Chief Minister said he was willing to take the help of the FBI, provided the Centre agreed to it. "I am for it [taking help of the FBI]. I will take it up with the Government of India," Mr. Gogoi said. He, however, said that it (taking help from FBI) cannot be at the cost of national security.

Offering his "sincere condolences" in the wake of the "terrorist attacks" in Assam over the weekend of October 2-3, the U.S. Ambassador wished Mr. Gogoi all success in apprehending the "terrorists who have carried out these senseless attacks and in restoring peace and tranquillity to Assam."

Mr. Gogoi said that 30 people were killed and 190 injured in serial blasts and incidents of indiscriminate firing by the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) since October 2. Describing the situation as "very disturbing," Mr. Gogoi said the State Government had vowed to carry on with the development activities despite the sabotage bid by militants.

He, however, said that neither the Assam Government nor other States in the region could afford to be complacent as a "bigger force inimical to the country had been trying to disrupt the whole of North-east."

Mr. Gogoi said the State Government had decided to recruit 16,000 home guards and 6,000 Assam Police personnel and form 11,000 more groups of Village Defence Party (VDP). It would also raise two more India Reserve Battalions to counter the militants' new strategy of attacking soft targets. He also said vigilance committees at the village level and market level would be constituted to ensure a strict vigil by public along with the security forces.

'Frivolous charges'

Mr. Gogoi described as "frivolous and baseless" the former Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani's allegation that the Congress had nexus with the ULFA. It was he (Gogoi) who had insisted on demolition of militants' camps in Bhutan as well as in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Instead of responding to the Governments' appeal for unconditional talks, the militants had stepped up violence. Asked to comment on a statement by the NDFB asking its cadre to prepare for talks, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would first have to confirm the genuineness of the statement published in a section of the media. He, however, reiterated that door was always open for unconditional talks.

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Assam attacks: Mulford offers FBI help