From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the ban on all the factions of insurgent outfits United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)based in Assam.
The government notification declaring both the outfits as unlawful associations has been issued even as a faction each of the ULFA and the NDFB are engaged in peace process with the Government of India through the Centre’s peace interlocutor and former IB chief P C Haldar.
The government notification mentioned that the ban on both the insurgent outfits including their factions have been imposed apprehending that if there is no immediate curb and control of unlawful activities of the ULFA and the NDFB.
The outfits may take the opportunity to mobilize its cadres for escalating secessionist, subversive and violent activities, openly propagate anti-national activities in collusion with forces inimical to India’s sovereignty and national integrity.
They may also indulge in increased killings of civilians and targeting police and security personnel; procure and induct more illegal arms and ammunition from across the border; extort and collect huge funds and illegal taxes from public for its unlawful activities.
A faction of the ULFA led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa and including the majority senior leaders have come forward for dialogue with the Government of India after their arrests in Bangladesh hide-outs over two years back.
However, the hawkish faction of the ULFA led by its fugitive ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barues to remain opposed to the peace talks and has been trying to gain strength after setting up base inside neighbouring Myanmar’s territory.
Same is the case with the NDFB. While the faction of the NDFB led by Gobinda Basumatary is now engaged in dialogue with the Government of India, possibility of starting dialogue with the faction led by its ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary depends on the release of Daimary from jail.
He is now lodged in jail after his arrested in Bangladesh over two years back. He was named the prime accused by the CBI in connection with October 30, 2008 serial blasts in Assam in which over 90 persons were killed and 400 odd injured.