Guwahati: The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Sunday launched fresh attack on Bihari people in Upper Assam's Dibrugarh and Sivasagar districts, killing nine persons and injuring five. The attack comes even as thousands of Bihari and other Hindi speaking people staged angry protests on the national highway in curfew-clamped Tinsukia with the bodies of victims of Friday's massacre.

Death toll 57

With Sunday's killings, the death toll in ULFA attacks on Biharis has gone up to 57.

The attack occurred around 8.30 p.m., over two hours after a high-level Central team led by Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal visited Tinsukia district.

Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner K.K. Dwivedi told The Hindu that seven migrant Bihari workers were gunned down and three others were injured at Ketekibari on Sunday. Another Bihari worker was gunned down at Demow. Inspector-General of Police (Law and Order) D.K. Pathak said one person was killed and two others were injured at Sepon in Dibrugarh district.

Indefinite curfew was clamped on Tinsukia sub-division after Friday's massacre sparked off angry protests. At Longsowal, the protesters refused to cremate the bodies of 12 victims till their demand for handing over of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts to the Army was met.

They also refused to meet State Planning and Development Minister Prtihibi Majhi and Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi.

Mr. Jaiswal tried to pacify the protesters by assuring them that the Government would take all possible measures to ensure their safety and security and prevent the recurrence of such attacks.

Talking to journalists at the LGBI international airport after a meeting with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Mr. Jaiswal ruled out any discussion on sovereignty. He said the ULFA should give up violence and sit for negotiations.

On the Assam Government's request for more security forces, Mr. Jaiswal said he would discuss the matter with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

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