But even if Mahanta comes out unscathed in the LOC scandal, the militants do not seem to be giving any respite to the chief minister. Consider this: in the first fortnight of 1998, at least 45 people were killed by different militant organisations; a Northeast Frontier railway engineer and son of a Hindustan Lever executive were kidnapped. During the same period, at least 12 militants have been killed and several others arrested. The cycle of violence appears unending in the state and with elections less than a month away, Assam is sitting on a powder keg.