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Assam paralysed

by strike after

minister's murder

GUWAHATI: The far eastern Indian state of Assam was paralysed by a dawn-to-dusk strike on Tuesday, called to protest against the murder of a state minister by separatist guerrillas.

The strike came as military officials reported that at least a dozen separatists had been gunned down in counter-insurgency operations following Saturday's landmine attack that killed forest and public works minister Nagen Sharma and four others.

The attack has been blamed on the state's main separatist outfit Ñ the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).

Shops, businesses, government offices, as well as financial and educational institutions all heeded. Tuesday's strike call by the state legislature's ruling AGP party.

"The spontaneous and total response to the strike call was enough indication to suggest the people of Assam are opposed to all forms of violence and reject militant activities," an AGP spokesman told AFP.

Meanwhile, a senior army commander said at least 12 ULFA militants had been killed in a major push against separatist bases outside Assam.

Eight militants were gunned down by police in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh state, while four other ULFA rebels were killed in a shootout with paramilitary soldiers in Nagaland state.

"Troops have launched a massive counter-insurgency operation against the ULFA militants after they killed the minister," the commander said.

"We are getting help from our counterparts in other neighbouring states to nab the ULFA rebels who could be sheltering there."ÑAFP