Delhi to take up ULFA with Dhaka

The timer device used in the Dhemaji blast, which claimed 13 lives on Independence Day, has only added to India’s worries. The timer was similar to that used by Kashmiri militants. And this was the first time that the ULFA was using an explosive device which could be triggered after a long period.

Sources said they hope there would be some movement on the issues of infiltration and ULFA presence in Bangladesh during the two-day meeting. Last time, the talks — scheduled for March 30 — had been postponed as Dhaka was not ready to accommodate New Delhi’s requests on the two issues.

Singh’s Bangladesh trip was finalised today after ULFA engineered a number of blasts in Assam on Thursday, killing six people, including three BSF personnel.

Senior officials — handling internal security, North-East and border management in the Ministry — briefed the Home Secretary on the ULFA’s recent activities. A formal agenda would be prepared during a high-level meeting on September 2, and sent to Dhaka, sources said. The Additional Director-General of BSF would accompany the Home Secretary for the trip.

‘‘It appears that the ULFA has regrouped and consolidated after Bhutan’s action against them. The ULFA cadre were on the run for quite some time, taking refuge in Bangladesh. As per reports, they have also strengthened their camps and support base in Bangladesh, and are trying to recruit more people for their cadre. The Home Secretary is going to take it up with Dhaka in a strong way. He will also carry a fresh list of ULFA training camps in Bangladesh,’’ a senior official said.

Other contentious issues like illegal immigration, gun-running, joint patrolling and border-fencing would also be taken up with Bangladesh, sources said.