Assam's state of troubles

The state of Assam has witnessed a bloodbath during the last 48 hours. 55 labourers were gunned down by suspected ULFA militants, and majority of these labourers belonged to the northern parts of India, notably Bihar. This is not the first time that this incidence has taken place in Assam. In 2000, militants targetted members of the Hindi Community from Bihar in Assam, leading to several deaths. These deaths are being viewed by the government as an attempt to destabilize the state as well as give momentum to the 'Liberation of Assam' drive!!!

If the government is to be believed, then Opinion polls conducted in the state indicate that 95% of the people do not agree with the Liberation drive. The repeated attempts at the peace process between the Government and the militants has been shattered, on account of apathy on both sides. Looking at this current terror act, the centre has deployed Army personnel in the state. The government has sent in a committee to review the situation in the troubled areas. Even railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is planning to visit Assam.

With this latest round of violence, the North East has come back into the agenda of the government. They now can no longer continue to ignore what is happening in Assam, and that some active action to eliminate ULFA and other militant outfits should be considered. By initiating such action, the government is sending out a clear message that anybody who initiates violence which disharmonizes society will be punished. It is about time that the ULFA militancy is categorized in the same bracket as the Naxal menace, for these two groups pose a real threat to the internal security of India. There is a message also for the Government, and that Apathy on their behalf will only result in violence and the strengthening of such militant outfits. The sooner action is taken against them, the better it will be for the whole country.