ULFA, NDFB planning serial blasts in Assam, says DGP Assam

IANS/PTI
Guwahati, JANUARY 17

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ilitant outfits ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) are planning to carry out serial blasts in various places in Assam, the state’s police chief said Friday.
Newly-appointed Director General of Police (DGP) Khagen Sarma, a 1982 batch Indian Police Service officer, told media persons after taking charge from outgoing DGP JN Choudhury: “The anti-talk faction of ULFA, NDFB and KLO have been planning to carry out major subversive activities like triggering of serial blasts at different places of the state.”
Paresh Baruah, commander-in-chief of the ULFA faction opposed to peace talks, had recently initiated a move to unite all militant outfits and Maoists operating in the state, he said.“This move will not succeed as a similar move failed in the past,” Sarma said.
He said Paresh Baruah’s group and the NDFB anti-talk faction led by IK Songbijit were planning serial blasts, and the KLO has decided to target certain communities. Sarma, however, said the law and order situation in Assam was much better at present as some militant outfits are in ceasefire pact with the government. On Maoist rebels, whose activities have been growing in some districts, the DGP agreed it was a cause for concern.
“There are about 100 trained Maoist cadres in the state. But there are also non-trained cadres with the trained ones,” he said.
“Police have been mostly busy in dealing with insurgent activities in the past, leading to a sharp rise in petty crimes. However, I will ensure that all crimes are tackled with equal strictness,” he said. The DGP said he would stress on improving the police-people relationship and would put in serious efforts to improve the infrastructure and modernise the force.
He claimed that the ULFA-I led by Paresh Baruah is trying to regroup insurgent outfits and Maoists and might convene a meeting of the groups next week.
“Paresh Baruah is bringing northeast militant groups together. He has invited them and the Maoists for a meeting next week. Outside support like that of the ISI’s, is also there,” Sharma told reporters.
The Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) active in Assam and West Bengal as well as the anti-talk NDFB (Songbijit) group were also invited by Baruah for the meeting, the DGP said.
“This kind of experiment has failed earlier. If they regroup, we will have joint operations with other NE states,” Sharma asserted.
The DGP said, the government would like to see Paresh Baruah participate in the ongoing peace talks with the ULFA faction headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa.
To a query on which subversive group was the biggest threat to Assam now, Sharma said, “The Maoists are the biggest threat. They have about 100 trained cadres in the state and many supporters.”
“If not controlled they will pose a big problem. Four of their top leaders have been killed here and it is a big setback for them,” he said.
The Police also has information that the ULFA, NDFB(S) and KLO were planning bomb blasts in different places in the state and target some communities, he alerted.