New Delhi: Failure of peace talks with United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has led to an increase in violence in the north-east region, said the Union Home Ministry.
The number of incidents had doubled in the first quarter of 2007 against the corresponding period last year and civilian casualties registered over three-fold increase, a Ministry document revealed.
Till March 31, 2007, there have been 156 incidents in Assam compared to 85 during the same period last year.
Moreover, 99 civilians were killed during the first three months this year, as compared to the figure of 31 during the corresponding period of 2006.
ULFA, however, accounted for over 50 per cent of the incidents in 2006 and stepped up violence ahead of the National Games in Guwahati in February 2007.
Just four days before the commencement of the 33rd National Games in Guwahati in February, ULFA had withdrawn its call for a boycott of the Games.
The Assam Olympic Association and the state government had appealed to the rebel group to reconsider its boycott and create a conducive atmosphere for sport in the greater interest of the state.
The situation was almost as dismal in the other north-eastern states, and Manipur continued to be affected by insurgents, said the report.
The report also indicated inter-factional clashes in Nagaland, and continued violence in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh though Tripura has shown a "marked improvement", while Mizoram and Sikkim remain peaceful.
(With PTI inputs)
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