Assam govt told to ensure people's safety

Alarmed by Sunday's twin blasts that claimed 14 lives in Guwahati, the government of India has told Assam government to ensure safety of lives and property of the common people.

A composite team of the Central government, led by the Union Home Secretary V K Duggal, had marathon discussions with state civil, police, intelligence and Army officials over the last two days to chalk out specific anti-United Liberation Front of Asom strategy.

Duggal told media on Tuesday, "Now onwards there would be specific steps by security forces to counter ULFA belligerence and you will see the results on the ground very soon."

The Union Home Secretary met the Governor, the chief minister, senior Army, police and civil administration officials during the last two days to take stock of the situation and discuss future course of action.

"The objective of the review of the security scenario with security strategy group and other agencies, including intelligence, was to facilitate all such effective steps in time-bound manner to ensure security to lives and property and protection of economic infrastructure and installations in the state," he said.

Duggal termed Sunday's blasts as a huge act of terror and cowardice and underlined the need for tackling such acts of violence firmly.

He, however, said that one incident should not be allowed to put an end to the initiative to bring ULFA militants to the mainstream giving indication that the door was not yet closed for the ULFA to come for dialogue.

"We still believe that they (ULFA ultras) are a misguided lot. We still want them to join the mainstream and the cornerstone for that is that the ULFA must show sincerity to seek a peaceful solution to the problem," he said.

Earlier, Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Kumar Singh asked the state police force to tackle terrorism with more seriousness and in a professional manner.

Inaugurating a seminar on 'Terrorism: Emerging trends and needs for strategy' organised by the Assam police, the Governor told the police force, "If you are serious, terrorism can't survive."

The Governor asked the police to overhaul the system of sharing of real time intelligence to defeat the design of terrorists and equip itself with hardcore and dedicated professionals who can't be sold out.