..the state at that point in time was ruled by the AGP,' Samujjal Bhattacharya, advisor of the influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU), told IANS.

'We want justice and those involved in the secret killings should be punished at any cost,' the AASU leader said.

The Assam government has also decided to reopen some of the cases of the 'secret killings' to enable families of the victims to get justice.

'Already the process is on and investigations have begun into some cases,' Assam government spokesperson and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The secret killings, as they came to be known, became a major issue during the assembly polls in 2001 and 2006, and again during the last parliamentary elections, in which the Congress led by Tarun Gogoi defeated the AGP hands down.

A probe headed by Justice (Retd) K.N. Saikia indicted Mahanta of involvement in the killings -- blaming the security establishment during his tenure.