NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Syed Zarir Hussain in Guwahati
At least 15,000 people in the insurgency-racked northeastern state of Assam took to the streets of Guwahati on Thursday to protest against a spurt in separatist violence, officials said.
The protestors, holding anti-militant posters and banners, marched through the streets of Assam's principal city, shouting peace slogans and singing patriotic songs.
"The peace march is part of a week-long campaign organised by the state government to mobilise public opinion against all forms of militant violence and to help build an atmosphere where the rebels can come back and join the mainstream," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told the Indo-Asian News Service.
Gogoi earlier flagged off the peace march.
"We don't want to see innocent people being killed in Assam and we're taking part in the march to send a message to the insurgents -- the people don't approve of any form of violence and want peace," said school student Tanusree Baruah.
The marchers, including schoolchildren, freedom fighters and commoners, later took an oath to fight terrorism and restore peace in the region.
Separatist militants have of late stepped up their offensive on security forces in the run-up to Independence Day. At least 13 rebel groups in the northeastern region have called for a boycott of the celebrations on August 15.
At least 10,000 people have died in insurgency-related violence in Assam over the last 20 years. More than 75,000 people have died in the seven northeastern states since India's independence in 1947 in separatist campaigns by at least 30-odd rebel groups.
"We want peace in the region. To achieve that, the state governments must adopt a sincere approach towards a peaceful solution to the insurgency problem," said Dhruba Das, a relative of a separatist leader.
The Assam government has vowed to combat militancy and mount pressure on New Delhi to speed up the process of peace talks with the rebels.
"Unless the central government adopts a sincere approach in tackling insurgency, violence will continue in the region," Chief Minister Gogoi said. "What is required is a strategy for all-round economic development of the region rather than piecemeal efforts."
Indo-Asian News Service
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
