Assamese columnist condemns killing of Hindi-speaking people by militants

An Assamese columnist has condemned the killing of over 30 people, mostly Hindi speaking, in a series of attacks by separatist outfits in Karbi Anglong District, about 300 kilometers from here.

By Peter Alex Todd

Guwahati, Aug 22 : An Assamese columnist has condemned the killing of over 30 people, mostly Hindi speaking, in a series of attacks by separatist outfits in Karbi Anglong District, about 300 kilometers from here.

Militants of Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are suspected to be behind the killings.arekrishna Deka, a columnist, said even the people could have revolted against the killings, but they do not believe in violence.

"The people are discontent. And if the people's discontent has the same route, by this time they could have been able to cause a revolt . They could have got a mass support. But that is not forthcoming, because people don't believe in violence," said Deka.

In a difficult geographical terrain, people in Karbi Anglong have become a soft target for militants groups.

At a time when the country is celebrating its 60th anniversary of Independence, the ULFA detonated two bombs in Jorhat, killing two and injuring over ten.

"It appears as if when there is some occasion, the (rebel) operations are mounted. But nothing is being done to take the people's co-operation. The civil society is not being engaged," said Deka.

Condemning the killings, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said: "All the insurgent groups, whether the ULFA or the KNLF, the tactics that they have adopted through bomb and killing innocent people is not a heroic job. It is cowardice and we condemn it like anything."

From early this year over 80 Hindi speaking people have lost their lives. On Januray 5, 45 people were killed in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh.

On January 7, 17 innocents fell to the ULFA bullet in Sibsagar and Dibrugarh.

ANI