Nagaland held special prayers for the terror victims

Dimapur, Oct.4: Churches across the state yesterday held special prayers for the departed and for those who were struggling to live another day at the hospitals and nursing homes. Churchgoers donated generously to help bring succour to the affected.

Many Christian leaders in India's North East states have condemned the deadly terrorist attacks in the state of Assam and Nagaland in which several people
were killed and injuring over hundred of people.

In a sudden outburst of violence in the North–East on October two, 45 persons were killed and about 150 injured in a series of bomb blasts and firing by militants in Nagaland and Assam.

The banned ULFA is said to have claimed responsibility for blasts in five places in Assam since Saturday saying it was in response to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's call for ceasefire. However, no militant groups have claimed responsible for the blasts in Dimapur, Nagaland.

Earlier, U N Secretary–General Kofi Annan has condemned the attack.

''The secretary–general has learned with shock and dismay the news of bomb and gunfire attacks that took place today in crowded public places in Nagaland and
Assam, which have claimed the lives of a large number of people,'' a UN spokesman said.

''No cause or grievance can justify such senseless and cruel acts that target innocent civilians,'' he added.

Union Home Minister – Shivraj Patil is on a visit to the affected states to assess the situation.