Assam defys militant diktat; celebrates R-Day

Defying the militant diktat and a chill Assam joined the 60th Republic Day celebrations on Monday. Assam Governor SC Mathur unfurled the national tricolour and took salute of the army, police and para military forces at the central function in Guwahati's Latasheel Playground. In his address, the governor made a clarion call to the militant outfits operating in the state to eschew the path of violence and to come forward for talk.

Four separatist groups in Assam, Manipur and Tripura have announced a 17-hour general strike from 1am to 6pm on Monday to enforce the boycott call. The militant outfit that called for a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations include the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom , the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation and Manipur People's Liberation Front.