ULFA trying to regroup, warns Assam CM

The United Liberation Front of Asom is trying to re-group, after it suffered a setback recently when a faction of the banned extremist outfit broke away to participate in peace talks with the Centre.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has stated that though the law and order situation in the state is currently under control, the government has information about the anti-talks faction of the banned ULFA, led by commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, trying to regroup in collusion with other insurgent outfits in the region.

Gogoi revealed that even as the pro-talks faction of the outfit had started negotiations with the government, the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland may try to strike terror in the state.

There were reports about the banned ULFA trying to revive its old contacts in China and Myanmar, in the wake of efforts made by the Centre to persuade the Bangladesh government to launch a crackdown against ULFA leaders believed to be hiding in the neighbouring country. Not only ULFA, top leaders of the NDFB, including its chairman Ranjan Daimary alias D R Nabl, are also suspected to be hiding in Bangladesh.

Gogoi lauded the Assam police for restoring peace and normalcy in the insurgency-hit North Cachar Hill district that was considered to be the worst-affected area in the region. The situation in the hill district has improved a lot after 381 DHD-J or Black Widow militants from the Dimasa tribe surrendered their weapons to facilitate dialogue with the government in a peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the Assam government is adopting new schemes to ensure state-of-the-art training to the police personnel, besides providing them with sophisticated weapons to counter the threat from insurgents.