Guwahati: The situation in Assam is slowly returning to normalcy with a massive military crackdown on rebel strongholds, following the carnage unleashed by them, beginning to show results. 

"The situation has definitely improved with the security offensives across the state. We are sure of restoring normalcy and instilling a sense of confidence and security back among the people very soon," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told sources.

At least 20,000 army, police, and paramilitary troopers were raiding the bases of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), blamed for the wave of violence that killed 72 people, 61 of them being Hindi-speaking migrant workers.

"Two more rebels were captured in raids in eastern Assam," an Assam police official said.

An army commander said soldiers were in 'hot pursuit' of the rebels in both Assam and in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh where the ULFA have set up bases to carry out their hit-and-run guerrilla strikes in the region.

"The ULFA militants are on the run and it is a matter of time before we get to see visible results," the army official, who wished not to be identified, said. 

Three ULFA militants were killed in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations that began earlier this week under the command of the army's Four Corps bases at Tezpur in northern Assam. Soldiers of the 2nd Mountain Division bases at Dinjan in eastern Assam are also engaged in the military offensive. 

"There is total coordination between the police, paramilitary and the army," the chief minister said. With the situation showing considerable improvement and no major rebel strikes reported in the last two days, the rush of Hindi-speaking migrant workers leaving the state out of fear has declined. 

"People are beginning to feel secure and hence there is no fresh reports of exodus," an Assam government spokesperson said.

The latest attacks were Assam's worst violence in years and came after the central government called off a six-week ceasefire in September and resumed military offensives blaming the ULFA for stepping-up violence and extortions.