Tinsukia under curfew, protests on

Meanwhile, kicking off the Assembly election campaign in the state, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi called for severe punishment for the security personnel who opened fire on the crowd.

The protests yesterday were over the alleged killing of Ajit Mahanta by Army personnel at Kakopathar. Another civilian, Ananta Moran was killed at Makum.

The outrage of the people against the Army operations came close on the heels of the second round of peace talks between the ULFA-sponsored People’s Consultative Group (PCG) and the government of India earlier during the week, in which both sides had stressed on restraint.

Sonia, who was on a whirlwind tour today, said she was in favour of punitive action against those security personnel who were responsible for the civilian deaths. ‘‘I am pained at the incidents and have already taken up the matter with the defence minister (Pranab Mukherjee) and stressed on exemplary punishment to the erring security personnel,’’ she said at a Congress rally at Tezpur.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who said he had telephonic discussions with Mukherjee on the developments in Tinsukia, said the latter had assured a government job for Mahanta’s widow besides paying for the education of his two children.

The All Assam Students Union has called a 12-hour bandh in the state to register protest against the alleged Army action in Tinsukia.

ULFA panel threatens to end peace talks

GUWAHATI: Taking exception to Kakopathar Police firing which left nine dead, the ULFA-nominated Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) today threatened to withdraw from the ongoing peace talks with the Centre if both the Central and Assam governments failed to immediately halt Army operations and violation of human rights in the state. ‘‘The PCG has taken serious exception to the high-handed Army and

police action killing innocent people, including women and children. — ENS