GUWAHATI: Security forces and Assam police engaged in counter-insurgency operation in Assam have mounted vigil against the proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) which has started using social media like WhatsApp to send extortion demands to soft targets besides engaging linkmen or over ground agents to collect fund on their behalf.
A senior police official overseeing law and order in the state informed that the ULFA-I had resorted to extortion drive especially targeted at the tea estates in eastern Assam where tea executives live in remote, vulnerable areas. He informed that a senior executive of Santak Tea Estate in Sivasagar district was arrested two days back for making payment to a linkman as per extortion demand of the ULFA (I). The official said the outfit, of late, has started using social media to convey extortion demand to soft targets to escape detection by security forces. The police gave become awake to the new modus operandi of the ULFA(I), which is led by fugitive commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, in respect of carrying out extortion and preventive measures have been put in place.
Chief minister and home minister, Sarbananda So-nowal reviewed the law and order situation in eastern Assam by holding a meeting with police chiefs of eastern Assam districts at Dibrugarh earlier this week in view of the ULFA(I) increasing its activities in eastern Assam districts that have borders with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
The ULFA (I) has a strong base in neighbouring Myanmar which can be accessed through Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. The outfit has struck coordination with Naga rebel group NSCN-K which maintains a strong base in Myanmar.
The ULFA (I) and NSCN-K rebels are suspected to be operating in close coordination which poses a challenge to the security forces.
A senior NSCN (K) leader was recently arrested by security forces from a rented house in the heart of Guwahati city.
