The anti-insurgency operations were suspended despite a wave of bombings in the past week killed at least 10 people and wounding nearly 50.
GUWAHATI: The central government on Sunday suspended anti-insurgency operations in Assam for 10 days despite a wave of bombings in the past week killed at least 10 people and wounding nearly 50, officials said.
"As a goodwill gesture, the central government decided to suspend all offensive operations against militants in the state with immediate effect for a period of 10 days," Assam Chief Secretary S. Kabilan said.
"Police would, however, maintain law and order duties."
"The decision to suspend army operations is a good beginning and we hope the government extends the period beyond 10-days until such time direct talks between the rebel leadership and the government takes place," Indira Goswami, a noted Assamese writer and sought by the ULFA to mediate for peace talks, said.
The sudden announcement by New Delhi to suspend military operations came even as the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was blamed by the police for a string of explosions in Assam, including one Saturday in the heart of the state's main city of Guwahati.
The ULFA, a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, in October last year formed People's Consultative Group (PCG), an 11-member group of civil society leaders, to begin exploratory talks with New Delhi.
Three rounds of talks were already held between the PCG and government peace negotiators - the first meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The third and last round of meeting held June 22 in New Delhi was led by Home Minister Shivraj Patil.
The peace process was on the verge of collapse with security forces killing at least 16 ULFA rebels in the past one month.
The ULFA was lying low since June 22 and did not carry out a single violent attack until last week when it stepped up its offensive with a string of bombings.
The group accused New Delhi of not keeping its promise of "restraint" as agreed in the third round of talks.
The ULFA is demanding the release of five of its top jailed leaders before the rebel leadership begins direct talks with New Delhi's peace negotiators. Home Minister Patil had already announced in the June 22 talks that the government would consider releasing the jailed leaders.
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