In the aftermath of the twin blasts in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said the state government viewed the situation "very seriously" and the proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam has to give up arms and violence as a precondition for talks.
Visiting the blast sites at Fancy Bazar and Pattharquarry areas of Guwahati and the two hospitals where the injured were admitted, Gogoi told reporters that though the doors to peace were open, the ULFA would have to give up arms and they should stop violence completely.
"The government has taken this development very seriously and has intensified security operations. More security forces would be deployed in Guwahati and the rest of the state," he said.
Visibly upset during visits to the blast sites, he admitted that the government failed to provide security and protect the common people.
"Yes, I have to admit that we have failed to provide security, but we have taken this development very seriously and operations against the militants have been intensified," Gogoi said.
Coming down heavily on the militants, Gogoi said the banned outfit used the ceasefire period granted by Centre in August 2005 "to their advantage by indulging in largescale extortion and arms collection. They betrayed the government's goodwill and used that time to regroup."