CALCUTTA, AUG 17: Brutal killings by terrorists in Assam evoked angry reaction in West Bengal today, with Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Somen Mitra and Pradip Bhattacharya, Congress MP, asking Prime Minister IK Gujral to control the situation and ensure security of the Bengali population in that State.

Bhattacharya said he and Mitra would leave for Delhi Tuesday to press upon the Prime Minister the need to take urgent steps to ensure safety of the people in Assam. ``If the Prime Minister fails to act, we will move the Congress president Sitaram Kesri for withdrawing support to the United Front Government,'' he said.

``We can't remain a silent spectator to the brutal killings of the Bengalis at the hands of terrorists in Assam,'' Bhattacharya said.

In a fax message to Gujral, the Congress leaders urged him to visit Assam immediately and ensure security of the people, ``since there is a reasonable basis for assumption that there has been breakdown of constitutional machinery in the State''.

Expressing serious concern at the killing of 17 Bengalis in Assam on Independence Day by extremists, Bhattacharya said, ``This is not an isolated incident. For the last few days, approximately, 38 Bengalis were brutally killed in different districts of Assam by terrorists''.

He alleged that the State had failed to provide minimum security to residents and there was no possibility that the Government would be able to ensure it in near future.

``I have no intention to spread regionalism. But the crude fact is that the lives and property of the common people of Assam are at stake and that the Bengalis constitute a substantial percentage of the total population in Assam,'' he said.

Echoing similar feelings, the Bodoland State Movement Council (BSMC) also appealed to the Centre to immediately intervene in Assam affairs.

The BSMC appealed to the militants to come to the negotiating table for a peaceful solution.

In a related move, security measures have been tightened in three lower Assam districts of Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta following escalation of violence.

Officials said Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, after visiting the violence-hit areas yesterday, had directed the security forces to remain on alert.

Eight persons have been arrested.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.