Nalbari (Assam), Dec 3: The announcement by the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Central Government was willing for discussions with the ULFA leaders if they give up violence has been welcomed by people in Assam who have been victims of violence in the recent past.

A few days after 12 oil tankers of a goods train were set ablaze by suspected ULFA militants near Moriani, twin blasts recently rocked Assam’s Nalbari district, which killed eight people and injured over 60 last week.

The twin blasts within a span of 40 minutes rocked the district, and created fear and panic among people.

The injured were immediately rushed to Nalbari Civil Hospital, while those who were seriously injured were referred to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The incident fuelled widespread anger, especially among those who lost their family members.

“What I think is that, those who kill the innocent people, and have tortured them actually they (culprits) have to be punished through out their life. The Government should immediately hold talks with them and bring things to peace,” said Narendra Goswami, a victim.

The authorities suspected the involvement of outlawed ULFA, but the outfit denied responsibility for the blasts.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was in the national capital at the time of the blasts, has strongly condemned the twin blasts and said that those responsible for it would be apprehended and dealt with firmly.

“ULFA was behind this. Always, they have tried to do this. On many occasions, they have been successful too, but not on all the occasions. Sometimes, they are successful and sometimes they are not,” said Tarun Gogoi.

Earlier, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had said that the Centre had prior inputs about the ULFA planning new strikes in Assam.

“Owing to the counter-insurgency operation, ULFA has come under tremendous pressure. Its leadership `is in disarray’. Key ULFA leaders are in prison. Recently, two ULFA leaders surrendered to the security forces. Their leaders are believed to be abroad and there are reports of serious differences among them. In this background it is our assessment that the recent incidents manifest the desperation of the banned organization – ULFA,” Chidambaram said.

This year, 1,196 militants have been neutralized `by way of arrests or surrender or they have been killed in Assam, and, at least 282 kg of explosives and 630 weapons have been seized from militants. (ANI)