Centre upset over spurt in ULFA violence in Assam

However, Centre did not think there was a deadlock in the peace process with the banned militant outfit

Centre on Tuesday said it was "upset" over the spurt in violence by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) but did not think there was a deadlock in the peace process with the banned militant outfit.

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"We are upset that again there is a spurt in violence," Union Home Secretary VK Duggal said when asked about the recent violence unleashed by the outlawed outfit in different parts of Assam.

Asked if ULFA had made any offer for direct talks with the Centre, he said "not so far".

On whether there was a deadlock in the peace process, Duggal parried a direct reply saying, "No dialogue is absolutely smooth".

He, however, said there was no indication of talks at the moment but hoped they were held "sooner rather than later".

The Home Secretary said the Assam Government has been sensitised ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.

ULFA militants get active around I-Day and increase their attacks to ventilate their ire. However, the Government had expected that the outfit would exercise some amount of restraint this time as the Centre had assured it of seriously examining the possibility of release of its five key leaders.

While ULFA has communicated to the Union Home Ministry that its precondition for direct talks with the Centre is release of the five leaders, the Government favoured the release only after ULFA gave a written assurance for participating in direct talks.

Meanwhile, the ULFA-nominated People's Consultative Group (PCG) is thinking of pulling out from talks with the Centre.