Ulfa intensifies extortion drive

After carrying out serial bomb blasts, the anti-talk faction of Ulfa has intensified its extortion drive, sending demands to various tea gardens in Upper Assam through SMS and Whatsapp. Disclosing that security agencies have also traced the whereabouts of elusive Ulfa(I) chief Paresh Baruah in China, security sources told this newspaper that the outfit has started a fresh extortion drive following a directive from Baruah. Sources also said that armed Ulfa(I) rebels, who entered the state to trigger serial bomb blasts, have returned to Myanmar. Security agencies had also been getting disturbing inputs on some Chinese agencies providing shelter to Baruah, the sources added.

Indicating that Ulfa(I) has slipped into the control of Chinese agencies, security sources said that the Ulfa’s pro-talk faction was optimistic of bringing the anti-talk faction to the negotiation table. However, sources said, the growing influence of Chinese agencies may not allow it to happen. They also said that the Ulfa(I) chief has stopped visiting hideouts in Myanmar.

Refusing to divulge more details on his whereabouts, security sources said that they had succeeded in tracing the elusive Ulfa(I) chief’s exact location in China.

Ulfa’s anti-talk faction was targeting tea gardens and some industrial houses to mobilise fund to give a fresh lease of life to its terror network in the state, and some tea garden managements have informed security agencies and sought their help in resisting extortion demands, sources said.

Ulfa(I) rebels had also used Whatsapp to send the video of Kuldeep Moran, son of Tinsukia district panchayat vice-president Ratneshwar Moran, abducted by the outfit on 1 August from Tinsukia. Security sources said that releasing videos to the media of people in captivity was aimed at to create panic among the public.

Security sources said that Ulfa(I) rebels had been asked to make their presence felt by resorting to various terror activities.