Insurgency considerably less: Tarun Gogoi

CM appealed to militant outfits still indulging in violence to give up this path, join the mainstream and help in establishing peace and development

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today claimed that insurgency-related activities had not ended completely but had come down considerably in the state.

"Assam government has over the last few years initiated several strong measures to end insurgency in the state and though there has been considerable improvement, violence has not ended completely," Gogoi said here while paying homage to victims of serial blasts of October 30, 2008 which claimed 96 lives and injured more than 300 people.

The Chief Minister appealed to militant outfits still indulging in violence to give up this path, join the mainstream and help in establishing peace and development.

"October 30 is a black day in Assam's history where many people lost their near and dear ones," the Chief Minister said at the memorial service organised below Ganeshguri Flyover here which bore the brunt of the blast killing atleast 50 people.

The Chief Minister assured people that his government was committed to the development of the state which was only possible with the cooperation of the people.

The memorial service was attended among others by family members of the victims, Social Welfare Minister Akon Bora, Congress MLAs Chandan Sarkar, Captain Robin Bordoloi, Bismita Gogoi, Arati Hazarika Kachari, Director General of Police J N Choudhury and senior state government officials.

Twelve high intensity blasts were carried out by the Ranjan Daimary led NDFB in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Bongaigaon on October 30, 2008.

Family members of the victims had expressed their anguish on the release of NDFB leader Ranjan Daimary from jail this year for negotiations and some of them refused to attend today's memorial service.