Assam guv says Ulfa on the run

GUWAHATI: Assam governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh feels that militant outfit Ulfa has disintegrated totally and is trying to hide around the difficult terrain in Upper Assam. The current attack launched by security forces is aimed at clearing the bases of the outfit.

Mr Singh told ET in an exclusive interview that Ulfa militants are taking refuge in pockets of Tirap, Changlang (in Arunachal Pradesh), Brahmaputra riverine areas and Lakipathar.

���The latest Ulfa killing is a last-ditch effort of the frustrated militants. The army has apprehended and killed more than 79 Ulfa cadre in November and December, 2006 and this has put a complete freeze on the outfits��� extortion racket. The killing of innocent people is the manifestation of frustration in the Ulfa camp,��� he said.

In 2005, the governor���s effigies were burnt and he was ridiculed by a section of people for he had cast serious doubts on the peace parleys between the Centre and Ulfa.

In the span of just one year, Mr Singh���s stand seems to have been vindicated and the Centre has launched an all-out offensive against Ulfa.

The Centre now firmly believes that Ulfa has used the six weeks ceasefire period to regroup and has bolstered its rank and file by recruitment of new cadre. They have even started using carriers for planting bombs.

The governor said Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya are also assisting the army in its operations. ���We are going all out on them, hot pursuit has started and there are no holds barred.

In the state, a positive environment against militancy has build up. People and political parties cutting across party lines have unequivocally condemned recent killing. The trigger-happy militants must now be terrorised,��� he said.

bikash.singh@timesgroup.com