Ulfa strike force leaders in security net

GUWAHATI: Bangladesh security forces are believed to have handed over to India 28 frontline leaders of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa). However, the official version is that these leaders surrendered to Indian security forces on Thursday.



Home Secretary GK Pillai told ET, "Around 28 Ulfa leaders have surrendered before Indian security forces along Indo-Bangladesh border near Meghalaya on Thursday."



Among those that fell into security trap included captain Bhaiti Baruah, captain Biju Deka, Pradyut Gohain, publicity wing member Anu Burahgohain and several others. They are expected to be brought to Assam in a day or two. These are members of Ulfa's strike force.



This is the third major crackdown initiated by the Bangladesh government in less than a year. Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and nine others, including deputy chief of its military wing Raju Barua, were arrested in December last year. In May this year, Ranjan Daimary alias DR - Nabla chairman of the anti-dialogue fraction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) - had fallen into the security net.



Sources in intelligence agencies said that Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua is in Yunnan province of China. "Thursday's development has swept away the entire strike force of Ulfa. After the arrest of the chairman, these commanders were running the show. "



At present, senior leader Bhimkanta Buragohain, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika and cultural secretary Pranati Deka are in jail.



Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua in a statement to media here said that these leaders along with their families had fled from their camp on September 22 and took shelter in an 'enemy camp' after Indian intelligence officials 'connived' with jailed Ulfa leaders here.



"This development is not surprising, though unfortunate. This is another drama enacted in the name of peace talk. People of Assam will come to know who is behind this. Enemies will keep on plotting. However, Ulfa is not going to finish. The ideology for which Ulfa was born will never die. The struggle will continue," Barua said.
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