ULFA in the grip of ISI — Surrendered militant

Describing the vertical split in the ULFA, Nath said the political wing headed by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa increasingly losing its grip over the armed wing led by Paresh Barua.

He added that favouritism had also crept into ULFA, with senior leader Raju Barua, who hails from Nalbari district, awarding promotions and “good postings” to those who came from his home district.

Nath disclosed that he, along with Raju Baruah and Drishti Rajkhowa (both top leaders) had planned to float the Assam Tiger Force in a bid to target the BJP’s support base in the state.

“We took the decision to float the ATF four months ago so that President’s Rule would be imposed and our support base could grow again,” Nath said. During the past six weeks, the ATF had killed nearly 80 Biharis in Assam, he added. Nath admitted that the `Enigma’ group along with the `Volcano’ group were on a killing spree, targeting non-Assamese people.

He alleged that Raju Baruah had centralised power in Bhutan camps which had caused resentment but not many dared defy him. “He has taken control of the economy, arms and general administration and even the camps under him are better fed,” Nath said.

Eight of the militants who surrendered today were from the NDFB, and the remaining from ULFA. One woman called Minati Mahanta also surrendered.While a few of the militants were Bhutan-based, the rest belonged to the district units of the banned outfit.

The surrendered militants had quit the ULFA in the past month and todaylaid down their weapons — AK rifles, machine guns, revolvers, explosives, carbines and 1,500 rounds of ammunition, apart from other small fire-arms.Addressing the surrender function at the Dispur Parade Ground, Mahanta said that more and more members of the ULFA were realising that they were on the wrong path, and have been contacting the police and Army, seeking out ways to return to the mainstream. He also appealed to militants holed up in Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar to come out as early as possible.

Governor Lt Gen S.K. Sinha described the recent massacres of Hindi-speaking settlers as the beginning of the end for the ULFA. “It all began when the ULFA killed Sanjoy Ghosh in Majuli, CPI(ML) leader Anil Barua during the 1998 elections, and raped and murdered a young girl called Rashmi Bora in Nagaon,” Governor Sinha said, whiel condemning the massacres and declaring that the UFLA’s present activities were driving it towards self-destruction.

He urged the former militants to help the state government bring peace and stability in the region and appreciated their realisation of the futility of violence.

Among others who gave up arms were the outfit’s wireless communication in-charge, Dilip Boro, and “commander” of the Dhubri “battalion” Subrata Sarania. With today’s surrender, a total 1,740 militants have laid down arms this year before the Army and the state government.