The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is considering a proposal to register an FIR against a faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA),after it declined to give up arms and the demand for sovereignty. The proposal of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to get the nod. Once it gets the go ahead,the NIA will examine ULFAs funding,arms supply,training of cadre and hideouts. The FIR is likely to name top ULFA commander Paresh Baruah,Nayan Medhi,chief of the armed wing and Drishti Rajkhowa,another top ULFA militant. A team of NIA officials is holding discussion with Assam police to identify Baruahs involvement in terror activities. He is believed to be operating from China and Burma. A senior Home Ministry official said,Baruah has already shown his intention by not coming for peace talks when most senior leaders had joined the peace process. Once a case is registered.we will get him and the others. In its FIR,the agency plans to book Anup Chetia,who is in custody of the Bangladesh government. He will be deported to India soon,sources said. Top ULFA leadership still holds the key and has been involved in several incidents of violence. According to credible intelligence reports,ULFA has been raising funds. and procuring arms, said a senior Home Ministry official. A case against the group will help the government identify assets and terror infrastructure of the ULFA. It will also help us put pressure on neighbouring countries where members of this outfit are hiding. However,this case will not have any impact on ongoing talks with other ULFA leaders, added the official. ULFA started formal peace talks with the government in 2011 when the group signed the tripartite agreement for suspension of operations. ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has led talks with the government where discussion has been broadly on three issues including protection of political and cultural identity of indigenous people of Assam,land rights and illegal immigration. Formed in 1979,the group was banned by the government in 1990.
