ULFA blames Army for killings

GUWAHATI, AUG 20: A series of cold-blooded murder of a number of close relatives of several top ULFA leaders in the State during the past one week has not only baffled the police and intelligence agencies, but has also given rise to fear among the masses who refuse to associate themselves with the insurgent groups of Assam.

Unidentified gunmen, masked in most of the incidents, have so far gunned down an elder brother of ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, four family-members of central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, and brothers of two other top extremists Munna Mishra and Krishna Kanta Gogoi.

Though initial media reports attributed the killings to a section of former ULFA militants popularly called SULFA, 8220;S8221; standing for 8220;surrendered8221; as a retaliation to the gunning down of prominent SULFA Tapan Dutta in the heart of Guwahati on August 10, the ULFA chairman soon reacted to such reports and said he did not believe that the surrendered ULFA members had a hand in the incidents.