Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

ULFA killings

The United Liberation Front of Asom has once again proved its cowardice by killing more than 60 people, mostly Hindi-speaking migrant labourers from Bihar, in Upper Assam. One fails to understand the rationale behind the mindless massacre. In what way are these poor people linked to its ideology of achieving a sovereign State? Did those killed symbolise the so-called "imperialist exploitation" of the State?

It is time the ULFA leaders understood that such acts of violence affect Assam and its people more than anyone else. The people are tired of violence. Their wish for peace deserves some respect.

Manashi Misra,
New Delhi

* * *

The merciless killing of Hindi-speaking people by ULFA is an act of desperation. One wonders how such acts of violence against poor migrant labourers will help the militant outfit. Even its sympathisers will not approve of such killings.

The Centre and the Assam Government should deal with the crisis firmly. The outfit should not be allowed to gain an upper hand in the troubled State.

Bijan Kumar Mahapatra,
Hyderabad

* * *

The brutal massacre is extremely unfortunate. The depravity of the ULFA cadres is all too evident. Such violence also shows the UPA Government in a poor light. It has forgotten the difference between terrorists and insurgents. ULFA clearly belongs to the former category for three reasons — it has neither an ideology nor a cause; it is thoroughly criminal; and, its demand for a sovereign state has no public support as a recent opinion poll conducted by a local NGO has shown. What is the point in talking to terrorists?

Pranav Sachdeva,
New Delhi

* * *

The terrorist group, which consists of extortionists and criminals, pretends to be the saviour of the Assamese and resorts to periodical kidnapping and large-scale killings to remain in public attention. The response of the State Government and the Centre has so far been inadequate, and aims to placate the ULFA cadres. This has emboldened them to step up their activities. The Centre must display the political will to tackle such groups.

S. Chidambaresa Iyer,
Chennai

* * *

Operations Bajrang and Rhino in 1991-92 and Operation Flush Out by the Bhutan army in 2003 almost crushed the militant organisation. It was political intervention that saved it then. It also gave the cadres an opportunity to regroup.

Our political authorities should hand over the upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, and Tinsukia to the Army or be ready to face ULFA strikes for another 25 years.

Air Commodore (retd.)
V.V. Nair,
Alappuzha

* * *

The banned terrorist outfit seems to be striking to make its presence felt. Such violence does not augur well for the State, which proposes to host the 33rd National Games in February. The Centre and the Assam Government should take stringent action to ensure that the games are held peacefully.

Srikanth Sriramula,
Karimnagar

* * *

The violence, with just a month to go for the National Games (February 9-18) in Guwahati, is a matter of grave concern. It shows the lack of security in Assam. ULFA said in one of its recent articles in its mouthpiece, Swadhinta, that infiltration from mainland India was more dangerous than the infiltration from Bangladesh. The authorities should have taken the hint and tightened security. That the attacks took place in inaccessible areas or there is a shortage of forces in Assam is no excuse.

Sandeep Kumar Sethi,
Dhenkanal

* * *

The attacks have once again brought to the fore ULFA's hostility towards Hindi-speaking people. The Centre has promised to take all steps to ensure the safety of Biharis and other Hindi-speaking groups. Providing temporary security is no solution. People from other States go to Assam regularly for work. For years, we have seen how the ULFA harasses the non-Assamese people. If something is not done quickly, like Kashmir we will find Assam also slipping out of our hands.

Raunak Guha,
Chennai

* * *

Whatever ULFA's ideology, if there is one, there can be no justification for the murder of innocent people. The killings have scarred the image of the Assamese people who offer hospitality to their guests during Magh Bihu, celebrated in mid-January to mark the harvest.

Tituraj Kashyap Das,
New Delhi

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