The ULFA has also chosen the easiest path—striking soft targets. While it carried out a series of explosions in different towns during Durga Puja last year, this year began with an attack on Hindi-speaking people—mostly seasonal Bihari labourers—killing at least 70 of them in 15 days. The security forces have also hit back, killing at least 60 ULFA activists and arresting over 550, with the Army claiming that the backbone of the organisation has been broken.

Lt Gen RK Chhabra, GOC of the Army’s Four Corps, also operational head of the counter-insurgency operations in Assam, claimed that with the attack on Hindi-speaking people in January, the transition of the so-called “freedom fighters” into a pure terrorist organisation was complete.

Then there were serious allegations that the Congress had a nexus with the rebels. That it had some tacit understanding for the elections was exposed by the ULFA itself. The manner in which the ULFA withdrew its “ban” on the 33rd National Games in February also remained hazy with a private television news channel saying that Gogoi had “managed” the outfit. The recent round of attacks in Guwahati, especially in Fancy Bazaar-Athgaon, has reduced the Government to a mute spectator. Gogoi did not even visit the blast site or hospital last Saturday. All he said was that he was determined to fight the ULFA with an iron fist. And the common man continues to feel insecure.