SOCIETY

Fear psychosis grips Assamese following ULFA killings

     Guwahati: A psychosis of fear seems to have gripped the majority of Assamese following the targeted killing of innocent civilians by the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Last week, traders called for a daylong shut down in the state, under the banner of the Assam Chambers of Commerce. Rupam Goswami, the Convenor of the Assam Chambers of Commerce, said the shutdown was organised on the demand of the general public. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) organized a sit in protest against the killing of innocents. "We want a violence free Assam , and every group must stop killing innocent Assamese," said Sammujal Bhattacharya of the AASU. The anguish is palpably visible among the intelligentsia. Nani Gopal Mahanta, who has done his doctoral dissertation on the ULFA, has no hesitation in terming the ULFA a terrorist organization. A Professor with Guwahati University , Mahanta, says that most of the recent blasts have taken place at economic installations, which suggests that ULFA wants to destabilise the economy of Assam. Nani believes enhancing security will not solve the menace. Rather, a roadmap for dialogue should be prepared, if a lasting solution is to be achieved, he says. Talks were held with the ULFA's nominated People's Consultative Group last year, but the ULFA's insistence on the release of its cadres without any assurance for coming to the negotiating table has destabilized the peace process. People want the talks to resume. The government says its ready to talk without any preconditions.
-June 9, 2007    

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