NIA files charges against Ulfa chief

New Delhi: The NIA on Saturday filed a chargesheet against Ulfa anti-talk faction commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah and its chairman Mukul Hazarika for carrying out terror activities and waging war against the Indian State.

The chargesheet was filed before the special NIA court in Guwahati on Saturday. The agency has also chargesheeted Gagan Hazarika (body guard of Mukul Hazarika). While Gagan Hazarika is already in police custody, the two other are absconding, according to a statement from the Central investigating agency.

The chargesheet was filed under Sections 17, 18, 18A, 18B and 20 of Unlawful Activities (Pre-vention) Act, 1967, and under Sections 121A, 124A, 120B and 385 of the IPC. A case was registered at the NIA, Guwa-hati, in December 2013 under various Sections of the IPC as well as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

It stated that the anti-talk faction of Ulfa, hea-ded by Paresh Baruah and other members, is trying to revive terrorist activities by recruiting new cadres and organising terrorist camps wit-hin as well as beyond Indian territories. They are also resorting to extortion and kidnapping to raise funds for attacking Indian security forces and governm-ent establishments and infrastructure, thereby intending to wage war against the government of India, according to the case details.

The NIA has claimed to have collected sufficient material — technical as well as circumstantial evidence — against the accused persons during its investigation and established the allegations against each accused person. While accused Paresh Baruah has been in Myanmar, Mukul Hazarika, alias Abhijit Asom, has been in the United Kingdom. They have been declared absconders and further action has been initiated. The NIA will carry out further investigations against Drishti Rajkhowa and other senior leaders of the Ulfa.