Assam gets shoot-on-sight policy

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Guwahati, Assam

Large scale mayhem affected villages

The army in the Indian state of Assam has been authorised to shoot on sight to prevent more violence in the troubled Karbi Anglong district.

More than 125 people have been killed in clashes between two rival tribal guerrilla groups in recent weeks.

Any fighters seen carrying weapons will be legitimate targets for the security forces, Assam's top civil servant, S Kabilan says.

The army has drafted in more soldiers to deal with the situation.

'Drastic action'

"Anyone found wearing military uniforms and carrying weapons, other than members of the security forces, will be shot at sight whenever spotted," Mr Kabilan said, during a tour of the troubled area.

"That is our orders to the army and the paramilitary troops. The militants of groups now in a ceasefire mode will have to stick to their camps peacefully or they will face drastic action."

An artillery regiment located in Karbi Anglong has already been deployed in counter-insurgency duties.

But the army commander in Assam, Lieutenant General Lidder, said an infantry regiment that is more suited to the task would also soon be deployed to help deal with the violence.

The two militant outfits representing the Karbi and the Dimasa tribes people are the United Peoples' Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and the Dima Halam Daoga (DHD).

Mr Kabilan said both organisations will be asked to attend peace talks.

Large scale mayhem started in Karbi Anglong when the UPDS and the DHD guerrillas started attacking villages belonging to each other.

More than 125 people have died in the attacks

More than 40,000 tribes people, both Karbis and Dimasas, have been displaced by the violence.

Intelligence officials say both the UPDS and the DHD militants were launching attacks from camps designated to house their guerrillas as part of the ceasefire arrangement with the Indian security forces.

Indian riot policemen and paramilitary troops attacked one such camp of the DHD last week at Dhansiri in Karbi Anglong.