GUWAHATI, Dec 22 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today informed the State Assembly that the State Government has requested the Centre to initiate talks with the militant outfits of Assam by following the principles adopted in holding talks with the NSCN(I-M). Replying to a question by Jagadish Bhuyan (AGP), the Chief Minister said that the Centre is also keen on holding talks with the militant outfits. But at the same time, he said that the Centre is not willing to accept the preconditions set by the ultras for coming forward to the negotiation table.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Rockybul Hussain said that the Government has time and again appealed to the militants to come forward for talks. The doors are still open for talks and the Government is hopeful that the militants would shun violence and come for negotiations, he said. He said that to check the acts of violence by the militants, the Unified Command structure is operational in the State from January 21, 1997. Hussain said that at one point of time, the NDFB expressed willingness to come for talks, but till date the outfit has not come forward for talks. He said that the preconditions set by the ULFA acted as a hurdle in the way of talks with the ULFA.
In a written reply to a question by Jagat Singh Engti (ASDC), the Minister of State for Home said that in response to the Government?s peace initiative, the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) and a faction of the United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) have declared cease-fire and started talks with the State and Central governments for solutions of their problems. He said that at present, the discussions are at preliminary stage and progressing satisfactorily. The Government is also trying to bring the anti-talk faction of the UPDS to the negotiation table, he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister today said that the State Government has received an amount of Rs 85.48 crore from the Centre during the period from June, 2001 to December this year for modernisation of the police force. He said that the money was spent on construction of buildings, purchasing of vehicles, arms and ammunition, procurement of materials for forensic science laboratory, etc. He said that during the period, an amount of Rs 10 crore was spent on the Special Branch of the Assam Police. The Chief Minister said this in reply to a question by Jagadish Bhuyan (AGP) during the Question Hour.
Ethnic violence: The Minister of State for Home in reply to a question by Zoii Nath Sarma (AGP) said that 53 persons were killed and 285 others were injured in the clashes after the train attacks in Bihar. He said that the highest number of 29 persons were killed in Tinsukia district. In reply to another question by Sarbananda Sonowal (AGP), the Minister said that the Assam Government has requested the Government of Bihar to furnish the details of the train attacks in the state and the matter of paying compensation to those affected would be taken up after receiving the information. He also revealed that connection with the backlash in Assam, so far 659 cases have been registered in different police stations all over the State and 943 persons have been arrested.