The Hindu : National : Meet reviews Assam railway security

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Thursday, Oct 12, 2006
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Meet reviews Assam railway security

Special Correspondent

Unified Command for tough steps

Guwahati: The Unified Command, comprising senior officers of the Army, paramilitary forces and Assam police, on Wednesday decided to intensify operations against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the anti-talks factions of militant outfits of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts.

The Strategy Group of the Unified Command, at a meeting here, also reviewed railway security in view of the recent killing of 11 persons, including seven Railway Protection Special Force personnel in North Cachar Hills district, by militants.

Chief Secretary S. Kabilan, who heads the Group, told The Hindu that forces have been asked to intensify area domination and counter insurgency operations.

General Manager of N.F. Railway A.K. Sanwalka made a presentation at the meet and he sought adequate security for the Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion work, he said. Till now only 37 per cent of the work of the Rs. 1,500-crore project had been completed. "Black Widow," an anti-talks faction of the Dimasa militant outfit Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), had been demanding 10 per cent cut from every contractor involved in the project. It had also been serving extortion notices.

Mr. Kabilan said railway officials, employees and contractors would be moved to the project site in convoys with adequate security in the two hill districts. Security for the surrendered ULFA militants was being beefed up in the wake of the gunning down of one of them in Dibrugarh district on Tuesday, he said.

The People's Committee for Peace Initiative began a 50-hour long fast, demanding halt to the Army operations, release of jailed ULFA leaders and immediate holding of direct talks with the outfit.

The Asom Gana Parishad on Tuesday sought the intervention of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to convince the ULFA and the Centre to hold direct unconditional talks.

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