[Assam] These ‘shoot on sight’ murders will no doubt go unpunished under the remit of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act(1958) applicable on the region. ‘Carry on Killing’ may be a good production by Guwahati University for world viewing!

[Bartta Bistar]

Traders mistakenly killed in India's restive Assam

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070124/3/2w9x4.html



GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Indian security forces shot dead two businessmen
they mistook for separatist rebels as they tried to enter an oil
installation in the troubled northeastern state of Assam on Wednesday,
police said.



Separately, a bomb planted by suspected rebels exploded at a roadside tea
stall in Tinsukia town, about 600 km (370 miles) east of the state's biggest
city, Guwahati, wounding seven people.



Violence has surged in the oil and tea-rich state in India's volatile
northeast after peace talks with the separatist United Liberation Front of
Asom (ULFA) failed last year.



The two traders on a bicycle were shot dead when they attempted to enter the
prohibited site in Geleki in Sivsagar district, about 325 km (200 miles)
east of the state's main city, Guwahati.



"We have identified the two youths. They are small time businessmen from the
locality," Shyamal Prasad Saikia, a senior police officer, said.



The men supplied construction material to the oil site.



The ULFA has been fighting for an independent homeland for Assamese people
in a rebellion which has killed more than 20,000 since 1979.



The recent spurt in attacks came despite a military campaign by Indian
forces after the rebels were blamed for killing 72 migrant workers earlier
this month.



"There is total chaos in the state. The (state) government lacks a clear
policy to contain violence and the rebels are taking advantage of it," Noni
Gopal Mahanta, a security analyst at the Peace and Conflict Studies Centre
at Guwahati University, said.



He said security forces lacked clear orders over how to contain the
violence. It was difficult to identify many militants among the state's
civilians and many security officials were worried a hardened crackdown
would lead to accusations of human rights violations, Mahanta added.



An activist belonging to the Congress-led ruling coalition government was
shot dead late on Tuesday in Sivsagar district, a police officer said,
blaming the attack on ULFA.



In the last week, about 10 people have died in almost daily attacks in
Assam, say police.
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