Police on high alert for ULFA raising day
From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: In an apparent attempt to placate his masters on foreign soils, the commander in chief of the anti-talks faction of the proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) Paresh Barua on Monday called upon the people of Assam and other parts of the region to resist ‘colonial’ Indian government’s bid to set up BRAHMOS and Akash missiles on the soils of Nagaland and Assam as it would make them target of ‘Red China’ that claims territory of Arunachal Pradesh.
The ULFA leader, who is suspected of having links in China, in a statement e-mailed to the media here criticized the Indian government for converting the Northeastern region particularly Assam to a ground to prepare for a possible war against China over borer disputes in Arunachal Pradesh.
“With government of India preparing to install BRAHMOS cruise missile in Nagaland and Akash missile in Assam targeting China, the Northeastern region including Assam will become the target of Red China thereby jeopardizing lives of the people of the region,” the ULFA leader stated.
He tried to remind the people of Assam the way ‘Indian Army fleed’ the state after failing to resist the invading Chinese Army in 1962 leaving the people of Assam at the mercy of the invaders. ‘The people of Assam were then saved only because of graceful retreat made by the Chinese army,” the ULFA leader said adding that same thing would recur in the wake of another war with China. He called upon the people of Assam to resist India Army from stockpiling missiles and aircrafts thereby converting it to a target of powerful China.
However, the ULFA commander’s statement has been branded by security sources as an innovative attempt to hog headlines at his hour of crisis when he has been sidelined by all the senior leaders of the outfit led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to enter into peace negotiation with the Government of India.
Meanwhile, a high alert has been sounded in Assam in view of the banned ULFA’s foundation day on April seven next.
“A high alert has been sounded to thwart possible attacks by the ULFA in the run up to the foundation day”, the police said here today. Security has been tightened throughout the state, particulary vulnerable ULFA dominated areas of upper Assam and lower Assam’s Dhubri district and entry and exit points of important towns have been sealed, they said. The police said that as per intelligence inputs, the ULFA cadres were planning to indulge in subversive activities prior to the foundation day to make its presence felt. The oufit has also embarked on a “massive recruitment” drive and some of them are on way to the state after receving arms training in Myanmar, the police said. Incidentally, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit Guwahati on April seven to inaugurate the platinum jubilee celebration of the state Assembly. (PTI)