Title - NFR cancels trains as government urges Assam to defy Ulfa bandh

GUWAHATI: The state government on Wednesday asked all its employees to defy the 12-hour bandh on Friday called by Ulfa's anti-talk faction in protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's daylong visit to the city. Putting the state on high alert, the government also advised Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to take precautionary measures against possible sabotage by the outfit. NFR's chief PRO S Hajong said: "Ten passenger trains have been cancelled and three rescheduled owing to the security threat in Assam."Earlier on Wednesday, the state government issued instructions to all its offices saying: "In view of the 12-hour Assam bandh, the state government has directed all concerned to maintain normal functioning of the government offices and services during the period."Singh will be attending the platinum jubilee celebration of state legislative assembly and also visit B Barooah Cancer Hospital. Deviating from earlier travel routines, Singh will be flown by a chopper from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport to the RG Baruah stadium, about 35km from the city centre. He will travel by road to his two destinations - the cancer hospital and then to the assembly complex. Singh is also scheduled to visit the secretariat at the assembly, where he will address the state cabinet at the chief minister's office block.The anti-talk faction led by Paresh Baruah has asked people to remain alert against violent situations as it plans to carry out attacks during the Prime Minister's visit. Baruah, along with a small section of the outfit, is opposing peace talks without sovereignty as the point of discussion. The majority of the outfit is now with the pro-talk group led by Arabinda Rajkhowa. The pro-talk group has held two rounds of discussions with the Centre after submitting its charter of demands, that does not contain the sovereignty demand.