Tinsukia, January 07: The Central Government today assured panic-stricken Hindi-speaking people of Assam of protection in the wake of a string of attacks by the ULFA that left 48 people dead and ruled out discussions on the banned group's demand for sovereignty for the State.

Some 1,500 people blocked a National Highway with bodies of 11 of the dead to protest the killings and demanded the deployment of the Army for their protection as Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal toured areas in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts affected by the violence.

Jaiswal, who reviewed the situation at a meeting with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and senior security and army officials at the airport in Guwahati, told reporters there would be "no discussion on sovereignty" as demanded by ULFA.

"ULFA and all other militants attempting to challenge the country's sovereignty under a mistaken notion should realise that sovereignty will not be compromised and they will not be allowed to achieve their evil goals," he said.

Jaiswal asked militants to give up violence and come for talks.

"The ULFA can discuss their demands with the Government and solve their problems." He hinted that security operations would be launched in Assam in the coming days to root out the ULFA.

Additional security forces would be sent to the State to instil confidence among Hindi-speaking people, he said.

An eerie calm prevailed in Tinsukia, where an indefinite curfew was imposed at 5 pm yesterday, and Dibrugarh, with police officials saying no untoward incidents were reported in the two districts today.

The non-Assamese people who blocked national highway 37 with the bodies of 11 persons ended their protest this evening and performed the last rites of the dead after Jaiswal gave an assurance that they would be protected, Superintendent of Police P K Bhuyan told PTI.

Defying the curfew in Tinsukia, hundreds of people took to the streets with the bodies yesterday and shouted slogans against the police and government.

Holding placards demanding security for Hindis peaking people, they blocked the highway early this morning.

"I assure you that this won't happen again.

The Assam Govt and the Centre both condemn the killing of innocent people," Jaiswal told protestors in Longswal.

Jaiswal was visibly moved as he met wailing kin of the dead at the Assam Medical College Hospital in Dibrugarh.

"We will wipe them (militants) out within six months," he told crying women with babies in their arms who met him.

He instructed the Assam Government to tighten security, particularly for Hindi-speaking people.

A high-level team from Bihar, including senior ministers, met victims of the violence in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh.

"It is not a clash between people of the two States but some frustrated elements are indulging in mischief," Minister Kishor Yadav said, adding there should not be misunderstandings between people of Assam and Bihar.

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