It was only last month that ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had said that “outsiders” had set up “mini Bihars”, “mini Rajasthans” and “mini Bengals” in different districts of Assam and called for their ouster.

Meanwhile, in Patna today, the Nitish Kumar government issued a red alert across the state fearing a backlash on trains going to or coming from Assam through Bihar. A high-level team comprising three senior ministers and two officers was also sent to Assam.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar talked to Assam CM Tarun Gogoi as well as Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. He announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each and urged the Assam government and the Centre for compensation. “The incidents are most condemnable. Till now we have reports that at least 40 Biharis have been killed in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. This will endanger the country’s unity”, said Kumar while expressing grief over the incident.

In 2004, Assamese passengers were assaulted and women were molested by angry groups protesting a similar killing of Biharis in Assam. It’s essential since all trains bound for New

Delhi and other parts of the country have to pass through Bihar.

Rajdhani targeted

Separately, a militant group patronised by the ULFA set off a bomb on the tracks damaging the air-conditioning unit and the water tank of a three-tier coach of the Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express from New Delhi. There were no casualties in the explosion.

With J P Yadav in Patna