Anti-talks ULFA faction forms new command

Paresh Barua, the 'commander-in-chief' of the hawkish faction of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom, has constituted a 16-member new central committee of the outfit dropping all the 'pro-talks' leader thereby formalising the vertical split in the outfit into pro-talks and anti-talks factions.

In the process, the fugitive ULFA (anti-talks) leader also elevated himself to the rank of a self-styled 'major general' from the rank of a 'colonel'.

In a e-mail sent to the media, the ULFA's hawkish faction informed that the 'mobile military headquarter' of the outfit had approved the newly constituted 16-member central committee, which is headed by one Dr Abhijit Barman as the chairman replacing Arabinda Rajkhowa, the leader of the pro-talks faction.

The rest of the members of the ULFA (anti-talks) new committee include 'Lt Col' Jibon Moran (assistant general secretary and finance secretary, 'Major Drishti Rajkhowa and 'Major' Bijoy Das (both deputy chief of the armed wing).

The other members are 'Major' Michael Deka Phukon (assistant finance secretary), 'Captain' Partha Gogoi (assistant finance secretary), assistant organizing secretaries --'Captain' Mantu Saikia, 'Captain' Nayan Medhi, 'Lieutenant' Salim, 'Lieutenant' Ajahar Ali ; Assistant Cultural Secretaries -- 'Lieutenant' Samiran Bhuyan, 'Lieutenant' Sagar Topno, 'Lieutenant' Jyotirmoy Bharali, 'Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary' 'Lieutenant' Orunudoy Dahotia and 'assistant finance secretary' Dr Pranmoy Asom.

The move by the hawkish faction is obviously aimed at derailing the on-going peace process between the government of India and the pro-talks faction of the ULFA led by Arabinda Rajkhowa.

Security forces have already intensified operations and mounted vigil against the ULFA hawks all over the state.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that Barua is fighting his last battle 'ignoring the popular wishes of the people of Assam' who are clamouring for peaceful solution to the vexed insurgency problem that has taken a heavy toll in the state's economy and development.

Gogoi, while asserting that there will be no let up in operation against the ULFA hawks, called upon the faction to join the peace process in the greater interest of the state.