NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Assam on January 16 to review the security situation and the offensive against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) following the killing of 70 migrant workers killed by the banned outfit earlier this month.

Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal told newspersons after a multi-disciplinary review meeting on Friday that the Centre has asked the State Government to immediately give compensation to the families of those killed and take steps to instil confidence among people of all communities.

Going by the "sensitivity" of the situation and the "larger issues involved," Assam's joint anti-terror mechanism would now be chaired by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi instead of the Chief Secretary, he said.

Patrolling intensified

"The situation is fairly under control. Nevertheless operations are on. We have also intensified patrolling. I am satisfied with the arrangements. If required, we will send more forces."

Denying that there was "lack of political will" in tackling militancy in Assam, Mr. Duggal said the political and the strategic objectives were precisely defined. The Government would deal "strongly" with the perpetrators of the violence through combined operations by Central and State security forces.

The Union Government was prepared to "welcome" those who wished to sit across the negotiating table, provided they abjured violence and agreed to unconditional talks.

"No exodus"

Flanked by Chief Secretary P. C. Sharma and Director-General of Police R.N. Mathur, Mr. Duggal said the flight of migrant labourers had virtually stopped.

"Initially we thought all of them would leave. With the implementation of confidence-building measures, this had slowed down. Many of them were seasonal workers who were about to leave anyway. Otherwise, there is no exodus. Of the 8,000 people in relief camps, nearly half had returned."

Apart from the Prime Minister's visit, Home Minister Shivraj Patil would also travel to Assam to review the situation, especially in view of the National Games scheduled in Guwahati next month. After the contractors finish their job, early next week the Government would begin the exercise to sanitise the venues.

So far, three militants had been killed, 16 arrested and a large cache of arms seized. However, body count was not the issue. "The aim is not to kill but to restore public confidence in a safe and secure society."

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