The banned United Liberation Front of Asom has castigated the 'colonial Indian security forces' for continuing its offensive against the outfit and other innocent people of Assam.

The ULFA said the government's action contradicts the spirit of the ongoing initiative to find a political solution to the conflict in Assam through dialogue.

The militant group said that it had remained calm and held its fire despite provocation out of respect for its commitment and the wishes of people of Assam.

In a statement e-mailed to the media on the occasion of outfit's Martyrs' Day, the chairman of the group, Arabinda Rajkhowa accused the Centre of adopting double standards.

He said the recent killings of ULFA cadres at Baganpara in Nalbari district of Assam and Mendipathar in Meghalaya by security forces at a time when the peace initiative was on the right track exposed the Centre's double standards.

'The Indian colonial forces have now changed their modus operandi. They now plant bombs in crowded places and the blame is put on ULFA,' the militant leader alleged.

A senior police official in Assam, however, chose to term the ULFA allegation as routine rhetoric by a militant group to garner sympathy from the common people.

He said the ULFA had the history of killing unarmed civilians in the state.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Secretary V K Duggal has sent a message to the ULFA through a statement asserting that Government of India was committed to hold direct talks with the militant group.

"Even if some confusion appear in the process effort will be made to remove those so that direct talks could be started at the earliest," the home secretary stated in New Delhi on Thursday.

Earlier, the Centre had assured to consider the release of top ULFA leaders once the direct negotiation with the militant group began.