Child’s nut hunt ends in blast death

Guwahati, May 13 : A seven-year-old boy died in a grenade blast in Baksa after he brought the explosive home thinking it to be a fruit and tried to crack it open like a tamul (betel nut) with a knife.

It was around 7.30am and Ajay Basumatary was busy collecting betel nuts and mangoes that had dropped in his backyard after yesterday’s storm, when he stumbled upon the Austrian grenade.

“He brought the grenade to his courtyard and curious to know what it was, he hit it with a knife in the same manner as he would a tamul (betel). Under its impact, the lever of the grenade came off and it exploded, killing the child on the spot,” a police official said.

The explosion also injured Ajay’s mother Sarala, 30, his grandmother Bibari, 55, sister Rupa, 10, and brother Maneswar, 5, and blew up a part of their home in Sarukuchijhar village under Barama police station.

Ajay’s father, Anil, a farmer, was out in the field when the explosion occurred.

The police official said the child died of multiple injuries on his chest, abdomen, hands and legs.

“The injured were admitted to a hospital at Musalpur and their condition is stated to be out of danger,” he said.

“It was a freak accident. Since the child was just seven years of age, he had absolutely no idea that it was a grenade,” he added.

The police have not been able to ascertain how the grenade landed in the backyard of Ajay’s house.

“We suspect the rebels might have hidden the Austrian grenade, as Ulfa and the National Democratic Front of Boroland are known to use such grenades. Moreover, these two militant groups are also active in that area,” the police official said.

The police later thoroughly searched the backyard but could not find any bomb or other explosive substance.

“Another child, who was with Ajay when he found the grenade, showed us the spot. Though we combed the entire area, we failed to find any more explosives,” a police source said.

They have sent the body for autopsy and registered a case (number 26/2009) under Sections III, IV and V of the Explosives Act at Barama police station.

Rebel link slur on Opposition

Tarun Gogoi at the news conference on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, April 10 : Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that some Opposition parties were hand-in-glove with the secessionist and proscribed Ulfa.

Leaders of the A and C companies of Ulfa’s 28 battalion had recently stated that the outfit had helped parties during successive elections, thus lending credibility to popular perceptions about a militant-politician nexus.

All major political parties, in a rare show of unanimity, had, however, denied the assertion. The leaders had not named the parties the outfit had helped.

Addressing a news conference at Rajiv Bhawan here this evening, Gogoi said his charge was based on available reports. He also did not name the parties allegedly having a nexus with Ulfa saying: “We have reports and are verifying them.”

“There are reports about Ulfa creating problems during the polls with help of some political forces. I won’t name the parties as we are trying to verify the reports. You can also assess for yourself as to who is supporting Ulfa and who is soft on Ulfa, which is a pawn in the hands of foreign powers.” Gogoi said. The happenings in Pakistan and Bangladesh were a warning to all of us to remain vigilant, he added.

Dismissing the demands of the AGP-BJP that Gogoi should resign, he said the performance of his government was better than that of the AGP-led governments. Gogoi also reminded everybody present that the Congress won the panchayat elections that followed the Beltola incident on November 24, 2007. He took a dig at the BJP’s Bijoya Chakravarty for joining hands with “secret killers” (meaning the AGP) with which the BJP has an electoral tie-up.

The other parties were swift to react. AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharjee said, “Coming from a responsible person such as the chief minister, the allegation only reflects the government’s inability to tackle the situation. One fails to understand why he had to go public before verifying the facts. This only reflects his irresponsible nature. We have always condemned violence. How does it help if we take the name of Ulfa? Will these incidents not happen then? Will innocent people stop dying?”

The BJP went a step further with its spokesman Charan Deka accusing the Congress of having a nexus not only with some militant groups of some northeastern states but also of Pakistan.

“The Congress is encouraging extremist groups of Pakistan and also anti-Assam activities of Muslim fundamentalists. Gogoi is levelling this allegation only to cover up the guilt of his own party. Therefore, Gogoi should stop levelling such baseless allegations,” Deka said. 

As proof of better governance, Gogoi cited figures about the number of incidents, security personnel and civilians killed in the five years of the AGP regime between 1996 and 2001 and the Congress-led government from 2001 to 2009. “Things have improved under us. From an annual average of 528 incidents, death of 80 security personnel and 307 civilians during the AGP-led government, the average during our tenure has come down to 425 incidents, death of 28 security personnel and 199 civilians.”

Newspaper editor shot dead in Assam

 Guwahati, Mar 25 : Unidentified gunmen tonight shot dead Anil Majumder, the Editor-in-Chief of a local Assamese daily 'Aji', who had been writing in favour of ULFA coming for talks with the government.

Majumder, in his late 30s, was shot dead by youths near his residence on Rajgarh Road, police sources said.

Majumder was accosted by a seven-member unidentified group while opening the gate of his residence on return from office and fired at from point blank range.

Surrendered ULFA rebels wants to participate in general elections

Guwahati, Mar 25 : Surrendered rebels of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) express their desire to participate in upcoming general elections.



A splinter faction of Assam’’s main rebel group, the ULFA, which prefers to have talks with the Central Government for a negotiated settlement to the separatist issue, said they want to cast their vote in the elections, which will be between April 16 and May 13.

Talking to reporters at the “Khotra Shatra”, a designated camp of surrendered rebels in Nalbari District on Monday, Raju, a surrendered rebel said, “I am thinking hard to cast my vote in the upcoming elections.”

The ”pro-talks” group, which walked out of the ULFA, declared unilateral ceasefire last year expecting reciprocal gesture from the Central Government to restore peace in the region.

“We are hoping that peace process will progress further after elections. Whichever party comes to power after elections we will provide our full support,” said Bhaskar Rajbonshi, another surrendered rebel.

ULFA has been demanding independence for Assam since 1979 and accuses New Delhi of exploiting the state’’s resources and doing little to develop the province.

The outfit has also accused non-Assamese people of plundering the state’’s resources and spoiling its culture.

Murderers to keep Assam safe?

Seldom has the act of giving the sanction to do their job created such fears among the public or given rise to such speculation as in this case in Assam, where donning the cap of the “Special Police Officer” now are 700 former militants, people who till only recently had held the country to ransom, waging at will their war against “occupational rule”. Yet that is the way how things are in this northeastern state.

The recipients of the government largesse this time, though, go beyond once renegade ULFA members; they include former members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF), all dreaded former militants with much blood on their hands.

With elections round the corner, political groups aren’t the questions that lurk in the minds of everybody, especially the public: Why should these officers be “special”? What if they return to the jungles having received specialised training? “Rehabilitation of these militants would be a good thing, but most of the time the Tarun Gogoi government is lying,” said Chandramohan Patowary, leader of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the main opposition party in the state.

As for justifying the induction, says Mrinal Hazarika, leader of a group of former ULFA militants: “These boys are trained the same way as policemen are. Hence, it is easier to place them in the force.” The statement of the police, though, is telling: “We have taken these boys after screening them three times,” Khagen Sarma, Additional Director General of Police and spokesperson for Assam Police told TSI. “And don’t forget only former militants can fight militants. A thousand former members of the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) have already joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).”

The inherent danger of such a strategy is only too obvious: that if such an operation were to veer out of control, it could once again bring about a spate of secret killings (in which families of ULFA members were slaughtered during Mahanta’s time), only this time with full-fledged government sanction. Sarma though says: “The appointments are six-month periods after which they will again be screened.”

For now, though, the newly recruited “Special Police Officers” are busy with the mundane, such as protesting that while the government had promised them a pay package of Rs 4,000 each, they had scaled down the figure to Rs 3,000. Surrenders, meanwhile, continue to be a thriving industry in the state with reports of former militants raising “goonda tax”, threatening their way into government contracts, and indulging in other nefarious activities now routine. And now, of course, there is the job of the “Special Police Officer” that is always waiting for Assam’s supposedly reformed militant.

Arrested rebel discloses Ulfa plot

Guwahati, March 3 : Stung by the intensified counter-insurgency operations, Ulfa has hatched a plot to identify and neutralise civilians whom it suspects to be informers of security forces.

Police stumbled on the outfit’s intention during the interrogation of Ulfa militant Madhusudan Das, who was arrested here on Saturday.

A source in the city police said the commander of Ulfa’s 709 battalion, Hira Sarania, had constituted five to six small groups, each comprising four to five cadres, trained in intelligence-gathering skills and use of arms, in a bid to pinpoint the civilian informers and neutralise them.

According to intelligence inputs, Sarania — who figures in the most-wanted list of Assam police — is also supervising the activities of Ulfa’s 109 battalion.

“Das has told his interrogators that these groups, which were led by leaders of the ranks of self-styled corporals, were hiding at different places in lower Assam such as Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kamrup, Goalpara and Bongaigaon districts,” the source said.

“These units were specifically asked to identify the civilians, who were being used by the police and army as spies to gather information on the activities of Ulfa in lower Assam where the 709 and 109 battalions of the outfit are operating. The members of these groups were drawn from these two battalions only,” the police source, quoting the confessional statement of Das, said.

He said Das was aware of the constitution of one such group, which is led by “corporal” Kamal Barman alias Nakul Kalita besides hardcore rebels like Baba Rabha, Amal Kalita, Gautam Medhi and Dhoba as its members.

“We have not been able ascertain the real name of Dhoba, which is actually his nickname. But the remaining members of the group are in our list of wanted Ulfa cadres,” the source said.

“According to Das, these groups were constituted around six months ago but he doesn’t know much about the members of the other groups except one. We are hopeful that sustained interrogation of the accused may shed more light,” he added.

Das was remanded in five days’ police custody by the court, after his arrest.

The police source said the group with which Das was in touch is at present hiding somewhere in Baksa.

“According to our information these groups are waiting for an opportune time to attack those whom they suspect to be police or army informers. The matter is of serious concern as they may create trouble ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls when the attention of the security forces will divert towards election-related security duties,” the source said.

He said the possibility of these groups targeting persons, whom they believe are “poaching” the cadres of the outfit’s 709 and 109 battalions and trying to persuade them to either surrender or declare unilateral ceasefire cannot be ruled out.

The police said Das, who belongs to Musalpur in Baksa district, joined Ulfa in 2007.

In another development, police today arrested Naba Kumar Rai, a cadre of Ulfa’s 709 battalion from Gorchuk area here.

A police source said that he was arrested on the basis of Das’s confession.

Assam To Turn In To Tourist Destination

After ages of being over shadowed by the militant activities, Assam is making serious attempts to convert its natural beauty and wildlife in to tourist attractions. New tourist places like Bogamati hill area are being developed in to places for the tourists to visit.

The Bogamati hill area is specially gifted with its natural scenery and is particularly a nature lovers paradise. The region is located at the Indo-Bhutan border area, Bogamati lies between two hill ranges and the foothills of the Bhutan border. Today, it is a hotspot for picnickers, thronging from remote places of Assam. Just five year ago, it was the general headquarters of the militant outfit United Liberation Front of Assom (ULFA).

The hill resort offers some delightful sights that includes 'Bor Nadi' river.

After the state tourism took action against the militant development, the area has become a major tourist attraction now. The hill resort offers some delightful sights that includes `Bor Nadi'' river, which originates from Bhutan Hills and flows through two ridges of the hills. Alon with the private companies, attempts are being made to develop the 'Bogamati' in to a hub for water sports.

"Earlier, there used to be militants here, but it is not so now. The situation was not good but now everything is fine. There were a few shops but now the numbers of shops has increased," said Sunmoni Basumatary, one local resident.

"After they have develop the place and its sports it has become very popular. The response of the people who come to this picnic spot is good. Roads are also developed slowly its becoming a good picnic spot and we have no fear to come here," said Mutesh Sharma, one tourist.

The growing interest among the tourists for the area has opened doors of opportunity for the locals who have set up local eat-outs and telephone booths for the visitors.

Can’t stop militant forays, say police

Policemen pay homage to their colleagues killed in the encounter at Sonari. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Feb 1 : A day after Ulfa militants gunned down two policemen in the Sonari police station area, the Sivasagar superintendent of police, Shyam Saikia, today expressed helplessness in preventing militant forays into the district from the adjoining Mon district of Nagaland.

Saikia said the district administration had taken up the issue of Ulfa militants finding shelter in the neighbouring state with its Mon counterpart but to no avail.

“They (the Ulfa militants) are taking shelter in Naga villages, which are dominated by the Khaplang faction of the NSCN and there is little we can do from here unless the Nagaland government takes action,” he said over telephone. Several rounds of discussions have been held with his counterpart in Mon district, he added.

Bansbaripathar Chetiachuk, where the two policemen — assistant sub-inspector Bhimkanta Upadhyay and constable Debojit Borgohain — were killed yesterday, is nearly 2km from the inter-state border. They were gunned down by a group of Ulfa militants who were fleeing from an encounter and came across the two policemen on a motorcycle.

The SP said there was no permanent Ulfa camp in Mon district of Nagaland but the militants use Naga villages as their shelter. “NSCN (K) militants have been providing logistical support like helping the Ulfa cadres find refuge in the villages in the district,” he said.

The police in Mon district have also expressed helplessness since these villages have NSCN (K) cadres and conducting operation in those villages would only complicate matters. The NSCN (K) is currently in ceasefire with the government.

Army sources said Ulfa militants easily cross over to Nagaland after carrying out subversive activities in Assam, especially in Sivasagar district. The group involved in yesterday’s incident did the same.

The pro-peace group of Ulfa today said yesterday’s incident in Sivasagar district could have been averted had the government shown interest in starting the peace dialogue with them. “We still have contacts with various leaders of the anti-talks faction of Ulfa, but they are not willing to join us because we have gone nowhere since we declared a truce in June for lack of interest of the government,” Jiten Dutta, leader of the pro-peace group, said.

Dutta said Rupantor Kakoti, a self-styled sergeant major of the 28 battalion, led the group involved in yesterday’s incident. “Kakoti and others could easily be convinced to join the peace process since these cadres worked with us. But how can we convince them when we ourselves are at a dead end?” he asked.

The pro-peace group announced on January 1 that they had severed ties with the Ulfa leadership and would like to start the peace dialogue with the government on its own. The group, comprising cadres of the Alpha and the Charlie companies of the 28 battalion of Ulfa, declared a unilateral ceasefire in June last year.

Dutta said the group would place a charter of demands to the government on February 1 and decide its further course of action after that. “We will wait for a few days for the government to respond,” he said.

Two policemen, ULFA militant killed in Assam

Guwahati, Jan 31 Two policemen and a separatist guerilla were killed and a six-year-old child injured in a gun battle between security forces and militants in Assam Thursday, officials said.

A police spokesman said the gun battle took place between a group of militants belonging to the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and a joint team of the police and the army near village Sapekheti in Sibsagar district, about 390 km east of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.

‘Based on specific inputs about a group of ULFA militants taking shelter in a village home, a joint team of the police and the army launched an operation in the area that eventually led to an encounter,’ police official A. Das said.
The militants, estimated to be numbering at least four, fired indiscriminately on the security forces and there was heavy gunfire by both sides, the official said.
‘In the encounter, an ULFA rebel and two policemen were killed, while a six-year-old boy was injured in the crossfire,’ the official said.
At least three ULFA militants managed to escape.
Security forces recovered a huge quantity of explosives and firearms, including two kg of RDX, from the site.
‘A hunt is on to nab the fleeing ULFA rebels who probably were planning to stage some violent strikes in the area,’ the official said.
The ULFA is a rebel group fighting for an independent state in Assam since 1979.

Centre to step up anti-ULFA operations

NEW DELHI, Jan 13 – Angered by the growing belligerence of outlawed ULFA, the Centre today decided to further intensify operations against the outfit, shoving the peace talk process into the cold storage for now.

The Centre has firmed up plans to go after the ULFA, at a high-level security review meeting on Assam chaired by Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram here today.

The meeting attended by National Security Adviser, MK Narayanan, Union Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Director, Intelligence Bureau, Directors General of Border Security Force (BSF), Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) and CRPF, among others.

Besides, Inspectors General (IGs) of various Central Forces operating in Assam, including chief of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps also joined the meeting. DGP, Assam Police, GM Srivastava, secretary, Home, Rajiv Bora and IGP Special Branch, Khagen Sarma represented Assam Government.

Stung by the series of blasts in Assam, Chidambaram left none in doubt that gone are the days of soft approach to ULFA. The militant outfit is now likely to face renewed heat from security forces. The officials were told that violence in Assam leading to losses of life and property was totally unacceptable.

After lying low for a while after the surrender by its crack 28th Battalion, ULFA has unleashed fresh round of violence including the serial blasts in Assam on October 31 and January1 before rounding it up by another blast last week in Guwahati.

Unhappy as it is with the lack of initiative with the Assam Police, the Home Ministry has also prodded it to swing into action to take on ULFA head on. The swift action to neutralise the perpetrators of the recent blasts by the local police was also noted.

Apart from sustained operations against ULFA, whose lower Assam-based 709 Battalion is now likely to come on cross-hair of the security agency, the meeting today decided to plug the gaps and escape routes.

Security Forces particularly BSF and SSB have been asked to step up vigil along the international border with Bangladesh and Bhutan to seal the escape routes, sources said.

Sources said that the meeting discussed the entire gamut of security issues ranging from militancy in Brahmaputra Valley to stalling of the national projects in North Cachar Hills.

Another significant decision was that the security forces have been asked to crack down on extortions. Assam Police has been asked to beef up intelligence gathering and mount anti-extortion drives in the State.

This came after Centre received reports of massive extortions in the State by not only ULFA but also those outfits with which the government has ceasefire pacts.

The security forces are also expected to mount special operations in NC Hills where a number of development projects including the gauge-conversion project, East-West corridor have been hit.

The Centre is also yet to take a final decision on the plea of the DHD (J) to sign a ceasefire pact. Though Assam Government is keen on signing such an agreement, the Centre is reluctant and has instead advised the State Government to crack down on the militants with the high level of forces deployed in the Hill district.

Meanwhile, the meeting also deliberated on the reports of influx of jehadi elements from Bangladesh. With the Home Minister yesterday seeking to send a tough message on illegal influx, the BSF is now likely to step up vigil along the international border.

Sources said that today’s meeting was follow up action of the review meeting at Guwahati, which was chaired by the Home Minister.

Assam has become a focus area for the new Home Minister and the spate of blasts in the State has opened Centre’s eye, said sources.

The Home Ministry has already announced plans to set up a regional security coordination centre at Guwahati for the North-east to boost intelligence sharing mechanism among the North Eastern States.

Sources said that the entire North-east has been accorded top priority, with the Home Minister proposing to visit all the States in the Region to understand the problems of each of the eight States.

ULFA, NDFB active in State: Govt

GUWAHATI, Jan 13 – The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are carrying out subversive activities in Assam under the influence of foreign powers and the top leaders of the outfit are staying abroad, said Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, who was replying to questions by Chandra Mohan Patowary and Keshab Mahanta of the AGP in the state Assembly today.

Hussain, who was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, said the Government has already entrusted the job of investigating into the serial blasts in the state on October 30 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He said that the investigations by the police found involvement of NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary and a few other members of the outfit.

“As Ranjan is in Bangladesh and is maintaining close links with ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah and Islamic militant outfits like the HUJI, the police suspects involvement of those outfits in the blasts,” he added.

Hussain said that the Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to deal with insurgents. He said that sustained operations against the insurgents are continuing while, the Government has also kept its doors open for talks. He said that efforts are also on to bring back the militants to the mainstream and to rehabilitate them.

The Minister informed the House that steps have been taken to prevent movement of militants to Bangladesh and Bhutan with deployment of BSF and SSB along the borders with the countries. He revealed that the counter-insurgency operations paid dividends as last year 124 militants were killed and more than 1300 were nabbed. The security forces also recovered 203 bombs and 202 grenades.

Hussain said that eight militant groups are active in the state. These are- ULFA, KLNLF, DHD(J), AANLA, KRA, HUM, MULTA and HMC(D). He said that activities of the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) were also noticed in the State and 11 suspected ISI operatives and agents were arrested. However, of them, eight were released and two are in jail, while, one managed to escape from West Bengal. One Harkat ul Mujaahideen activist Nurul Amin managed to escape from Guwahati medical college hospital.

In reply to a question by Ramendra Narayan Kalita (AGP), the Minister said that during the period from 2001 to 2008, as many as 406 persons were killed and 3248 were injured in bomb blasts in the State. He said that as many as 1345 persons were killed by militants and 355 were abducted.

Giving an account of the crime graph, Hussain said that during the same period, the state recorded 48630 theft, 2978 dacoity and 8452 vehicle theft cases. He said that 637 dowry death cases were reported during the same period, while, 317 persons lost their lives in ethnic clashes.

Faces behind the blasts in Assam

20-yr-old Ulfa cadre Sanjib Talukdar, accused in the Assam blast

ULFA cadre Sanjib Talukdar, aged 20, was arrested by police three days after the serial blasts in Guwahati. According to police officials, Talukdar belongs to the 709 battalion of ULFA and is believed to have supplied the explosives used for triggering the three blasts that killed 5 people and injured more than 50.


Based on Sanjib's statements, a few more arrests have been made. However, the mastermind Pranjal Deka has reportedly escaped from Guwahati. Assam police had earlier released a passport-size picture of Pranjal. Police claim Deka is no longer in Guwahati and had escaped shortly after the blasts took place.


TIMES NOW has got exclusive footage of Pranjal Deka, the alleged masterminded the blasts.

TIMES NOW has also learnt that Deka allegedly came to Guwahati along with his accomplices, who were acting at the behest of the ULFA leadership based in Bangladesh and other countries. We have also learnt that the Guwahati serial blasts were masterminded by the 709 battalion of ULFA active in lower Assam, including Guwahati and the Indo-Bhutan border.


Assam police have so far arrested 18 suspects. However, they claim that Deka, who is the mastermind has managed to evade arrest and move out of Guwahati.


Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had admitted that there was prior intelligence input about the three bomb blasts in Guwahati, but just like a cat-and mouse chase, luck did not favour the Assam Police.


"On the evening of December 31, we had been informed about a possible attack, with a little bit of luck, we could have caught them," Chidambaram had claimed.


The finger of suspicion points towards the ULFA and the terror camps in Bangladesh. Sources indicate that renegade elements in Bangladesh's military intelligence, DGFI, are also being suspected.


After the proof, Chidambaram's first meeting with the Unified Command - the three-tier command structure of the Army, the Assam police and Central paramilitary forces - clearly had its impact.


"Anyone who threats the unity, integrity and is against sovereignty of the country will be dealt with by the security forces," Chidambaram had said.


So other than putting pressure on Bangladesh to dismantle terror camps, the message was clear that there should be zero political interference when it comes to dealing with terror groups to avoid similar attacks in the future.

Play Video

Ghose ‘killer’ resurfaces

Fugitive Ulfa rebel threatens doctor over Majuli contracts

Guwahati, Jan 7 : A key accused in the murder of Sanjoy Ghose, the social activist who was killed by Ulfa militants in 1997 for unearthing its nexus with contractors in Majuli, has resurfaced and is threatening a medical officer of the island to offer contracts to his candidates. Phatik Hatimota, one of the 11 Ulfa militants chargesheeted by the CBI for Ghose’s murder and among the four still most wanted in the case, allegedly called up medical officer Jayanta Bora a couple of days ago and threatened him with dire consequences if his candidates were not given contracts. He wants Bora to award the contract for the construction of a gynaecological ward in Majuli sub-divisional hospital for which the health department has released Rs 15 lakh and tenders were floated recently. Confirming the development, Majuli sub-divisional police officer N. Mahanta said Hatimota was still operating in the island. “He fled from the island soon after Ghose’s killing but has returned recently,” he added. Mahanta said six persons working for Hatimota were arrested yesterday and Ulfa letterheads recovered from them. “We are interrogating these persons who have been demanding money in the name of Ulfa on the island for some time now,” he added. Of the 11 Ulfa militants chargesheeted in the murder case, five — Amrit Dutta, Siraj Bora, Babu Saikia, Arup Baruah and Mrinal Hazarika — were killed in encounters with security forces. Two militants, Moni Neog and Kania Hazarika, are serving life sentences and four — Ulfa’s self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, Anjan Borthakur, Pradip Baruah and Hatimota — are still absconding. Sources in Majuli said contractors engaged in various projects on the island, especially flood control and social welfare departments, had allegedly been paying handsome amounts to the Ulfa coffer much before Ghose’s team of social workers landed there. “The trend stopped following a massive crackdown on the militants in the island soon after the killing of Ghose. It seems Ulfa is trying to renew its fund-collection drive in Majuli,” another police official said. “The outfit’s fund-collection drive slowed down after the Alpha and Charlie companies of its 28 battalion declared a unilateral ceasefire in June last year. The Bravo company is trying to do its bit for collection of funds,” he added. Majuli is under the jurisdiction of the B company which also operates in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts. The outfit has already served extortion notices to tea gardens in Sivasagar, especially in the gardens located in Charaideo sub-division, bordering Nagaland.

Assam Peaceniks slam Ulfa

RIPUNJOY DAS

Sanjeev Talukdar, an Ulfa cadre, being produced at the CJM court on Monday for his alleged involvement in the January 1 blasts. Picture by Eastern Projections Dibrugarh, Jan 6 : The A and C companies of the 28 battalion of Ulfa, now calling themselves the pro-talks group, today took the outfit head on saying its denial of playing a role in the January 1 blasts in Guwahati was nothing more than an eyewash. Leaders of the pro-talks group said the blasts had Ulfa written all over it and attributed this to the outfit’s increasing frustration over the activities of the A and C companies which have found favour with the people of the state. A key leader of the pro-talks group, Jiten Dutta, said the Ulfa leadership was very frustrated with the activities of his group since it declared the unilateral ceasefire on June 24 last year because of which attempts were continuously made to derail the peace initiative. “The serial blasts on the very first day of the New Year was a well-calculated strategy of the Ulfa leadership — to be precise from the brains of chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and commander-in-chief Paresh Barua — only to demoralise the cadres who are with us. It was the same day when we had also disclosed before the media our plans for an autonomous Assam,” Dutta said. Although there has been a clear division in the Ulfa ranks after the declaration of the unilateral ceasefire on June 24, the pro-talks group had officially severed all ties with the outfit on January 1 and dropped the demand of sovereignty. It stated that it would sit for holding negotiations with the government on its own. On the other hand, right from the beginning the Ulfa leadership had dismissed the peace initiative by the Alpha and Charlie companies of the outfit’s 28 battalion. They termed it as a “trap by the Indian Occupational Forces.” The Ulfa leadership also expelled all those who are involved in the pro-talks group. “Arabinda Rajkhowa and Paresh Barua have been living a lavish life in foreign nations. This is why they have failed to feel the pain of the Assamese people here. We have been with the people — be it before the ceasefire or after it. From the meetings and interactions we have got a real view of the people’s hopes and aspirations. This is why we have come forward to hold talks with the government and that too for an autonomous Assam, not an independent Assam,” Dutta said. Meanwhile, police today arrested Ulfa’s self-styled sergeant major Mridula Changmai alias Krishna and recovered arms and ammunition from her at Sonari. Sources said another cadre John Singh, who was also with her during the operation by the joint police-army team, managed to flee. A search in the area is on.

Pro-talk ULFA gives up sovereignty agenda

DOOMDOOMA, Jan 3 – the pro-talk group of the banned outfit ULFA has given up the demand for sovereignty. In a press meet held at the designated camp at Kakopotnar yesterday, pro-talk group leader Mrinal Hazarika told that they would now sit for talks with the government within the framework of Indian Constitution.

He also told that instead of sovereignty, they would fight for complete autonomy for the State. The pro-talk group has also released a charter of their demands.

Mrinal Hazairka also informed the media that their appeal for peace to their central authority failed to evoke any response. As a result, the pro-talk group has given up all its connection with the banned outfit from now onwards.

From now onwards the cease-fire group of the banned outfit would be known as ULFA (pro-talk group), Hazarika added.

With this, ULFA which was formed in 1979 has virtually been bifurcated into two fractions. It can be mentioned here that the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the outfit has declared ceasefire on June 24, 2008.