ULFA accused of demanding money from charitable hospice

The outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam, anti-talks faction, on Wednesday launched personal attack on the chairman of a charitable hospital after the latter had spilled the beans before the media about an extortion demand slapped by the outfit in a demand letter addressed to him and sent to the hospital.

The ULA, in an e-mailed statement to the media on Wednesday asserted that the extortion notice was meant for the chairman of the hospital who is also a 'tea planter' besides being a missionary.

N Stephen Nag, chairman, St Luke hospital which has been operating at Chabua in Dibrugarh district, stated on Tuesday that the ULFA had sent an extortion letter in his name to the hospital demanding Rs 20 lakh.

He said it was surprising for a charitable institution such as this hospital, which has been rendering healthcare to the needy in a large part of eastern Assam. He claims the hospital provides medical assistance to about 6,000 patients every month from far-flung areas and tea estates.

In reaction, the ULFA denied the chargers, but from Nag, since he is a 'tea planter'. The ULFA warned Nag for trying to convince people that the letter of demand from ULFA was meant for the hospital authority and threatened to hamper the chairman's personal tea business in coming days.

The ULFA also stated that it would ensure that the 'misinformation campaign' did not hamper the functioning of the charitable hospital that is located in a place which is birth place of many senior leaders of the ULFA.

The ULFA also called upon the staff of the hospital not to be in collusion with chairman Nag in his efforts to defame the outfit in the eyes of the public.

The outfit claimed that Nag in response to phone call made from the ULFA wanted the outfit to send a letter in his name to the hospital so that he was convinced about the veracity of the demand.