The beleaguered administration of the Indian state of Assam on Sunday urged people to use "sticks and stones" to fight militants who have killed over 100 people here since October.
Assam Governor S. K. Sinha said the Hindi-speaking business community, who bore the brunt of the ongoing massacres, have been told to form "resistance groups" to thwart such attacks.
"Protect yourself by organizing (groups of ) 10 to 12 youths armed with sticks, javelins, and stones.
"These can be used as missiles to scare away militants," the governor, a former Indian army general, told journalists in the fareastern state's capital of Guwhati.
"This move can be a major deterrent against rebel attacks and prove to be very effective."
The violence has sparked panic within the Marwari business community from the northern Indian state of Rajasthan and people from the eastern state of Bihar, who have been the main targets of the recent murderous campaign.
Both communities control the bulk of trade and commerce in oil and timber-rich Assam, where their presence is long established.
The Assam governor said people's participation was necessary to end the bloodletting.
"What we need is the support of the people to come forward and fight the terror unleashed by the militants", Sinha said.
"Already there has been a massive public outcry over the killings and with people taking to the streets to protest such massacres."
Governor Sinha said unarmed villagers had "lynched" or caught 43 suspected militants in the past three years in separate incidents.
"That is in itself an indication that people are revolting against militancy," the governor said, adding that the state government was also setting up "Village Defense Parties" across Assam.
The governor's prescription came a day after India put federal troops on maximum alert in Assam and in the adjoining state of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday to prevent more massacres.
Army, police and paramilitary soldiers in the two states have already launched a joint crackdown.
More than 10,000 people have died in separatist-linked violence in Assam during the last decade.
Besides being rich in resources, Assam is India's tea-producing heartland and accounts for 55 percent of the country's annual production of 806 million kilograms (1,903 million pounds).
Separate homeland drives spearheaded by several militant outfits here have forced many traditional tea-growers to abandon businesses and shift to other states -- GUWAHATI (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
