The NIA is up against the banned ULFA which is reported to have a strength of 400 cadres mostly taking shelter in Myanmar. Its charge sheet has been filed to initiate extradition proceedings against the outfit’s chairman, Dr Mukul Hazarika from the UK. The NIA also states that the ULFA is on a massive recruitment drive in the rural areas of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur and Nalbari districts of Assam. Hazarika regularly travels to camps in Myanmar from London. It is said that a non-bailable warrant will be issued against Hazarika. Interpol will be approached for a red corner notice against him before a formal extradition request is sent to the UK government. It is hoped that there will be no problem as was in the case of Jagjit Singh Chauhan, the Khalistani leader based in London. The operation is expected to be completed in six months and Hazarika brought to India. As an ideologue, Hazarika has been in contact with the UN demanding independence for Assam. He has also been in touch with organisations in China.
Along with Hazarika, Paresh Barua has been involved in terrorist activities and killed several security personnel together with innocent civilians. They created trouble in the last two Assam elections. They intimidated supporters of the Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad. Paresh Barua has drawn flak from the Bangladesh government. China has also disowned him. With the death of S.S. Khaplang, he has lost an ally. It is time to mount a crackdown on the militants and start talks with the pro-peace ULFA leaders.
