Guwahati, January 02 2008: Talking tough after serial blasts rocked Assam, Home Minister P Chidambaram today said "no quarter" will be given to militancy and hoped Bangladesh will make a "new beginning" by denying sanctuary to ULFA and NDFB.

Five people were killed while another 50 were injured in the serial blasts on New Year day.

"No quarter will be given to militancy.

Any banned organisation will be dealt with firmly and decisively," Chidambaram told reporters here after a two-hour meeting of the Unified Command which is headed by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Broad guidelines have been given to Unified Command, comprising army, paramilitary forces and State police, that it should have a more sharply focussed strategy, said the Home Minister, who was on his first visit to the State after taking charge of the Home Ministry last month.

Pointing out that at least two banned organisations � United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) � have found sanctuary in Bangladesh, the Minister said he "hopes to make a new beginning" with India's eastern neighbour.

After her poll victory in Bangladesh's general elections, Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina has stated that her country's soil will not be allowed to be used as a launch pad for terrorist activities against India.

Chidambaram said he was hopeful that insurgent leaders will no longer get shelter in Bangladesh.

On extending the ceasefire with with NDFB which lapsed on December 31, the Minister said a decision will be taken "in a day or two".

"Ceasefire should be observed in letter and spirit," he stressed.

PM announces ex-gratia .

New Delhi, Jan 2 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the serial bomb blasts at Guwahati in Assam.

An amount of Rs one lakh each would be given to those seriously injured in yesterday's blasts, Prime Minister's Media Adviser said in a statement.

The assistance would be given from the PM's National Relief Fund.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the blasts, the Prime Minister said yesterday that the Government would root out terrorism taking the recent anti-terror measures to their logical conclusion.

"The Government will stay steadfast in its determination to root out terrorism and that the measures initiated recently in this direction will be taken to their logical conclusion," he had said.

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