Assam rebels say govt behind killings

GUWAHATI, January 17: The main separatist guerrilla group in India's strife-torn northeastern Assam accused security forces on Wednesday of responsibility for recent kidnappings and killings of relatives of the militant group. Assam Home Commissioner Mrinal Kuamar Barua denied the allegation and said the government was "concerned about the attacks and killings" and had provided security to relatives of ULFA members. The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) said the government was seeking to put psychological pressure on the guerrillas to abandon violence by targeting family members. "Such methods will not help in solving the problem. Rather it would further complicate it. If the secret killings continue, the ULFA will take necessary measures," it said in a statement. Earlier this month, gunmen killed three relatives of a ULFA commander in what police said was a revenge attack. Police said they believed the killings were carried out by a group of surrendered ULFA members in retaliation for the killing of three of their cohorts. Some former ULFA members have joined government forces to fight the rebels and police suspect they have been behind a wave of murders of family members of ULFA leaders. More than 3,000 ULFA activists have surrendered over the past two years because of differences with the group's leaders. Formed in 1979, the ULFA is fighting for an independent state and accuses New Delhi of exploiting Assam's natural resources and neglecting its economy.