Hang ULFA men: protest spills onto Assam roads

While school children and college students took out protest rallies and silent marches all over the state yesterday, it was the turn of citizens from all walks of life to join hands to condemn ULFA for the incident.

Sadau Asom Moina Parijat, the apex children’s organisation of the state on its part said, ‘‘Do the militants think that innocent children are standing in their way? Let no more children die in Assam.’’

The strongest condemnation however, came from an organisation called Assam Public Works ULFA Families Committee, a forum of parents of youth who have joined the ULFA. ‘‘ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and commander Paresh Barua are fit to be hanged for this unpardonable act,’’ said their statement.

‘‘There is no language to condemn such a dastardly act. Who are they (the ULFA) fighting,’’ asked noted children’s writer and septuagenarian poet Keshav Mahanta.

Noted playwright and novelist Arun Sharma held the media responsible for glorifying the militants all these years. ‘‘The people should come out to the streets to oppose ULFA,’’ said Sharma, winner of both Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards.

The AASU also demanded the resignation of CM Tarun Gogoi for having failed to provide security to children and common people.