Assam: ULFA boosts extortion drive, uses Whatsapp to demand money from tea gardens
Guwahati: After carrying out series of bomb blasts, the anti-talk faction of ULFA has intensified its extortion drive and has resorted to SMS and Whatsapp to demand money from tea gardens in Assam.
Disclosing that security agencies have also traced the whereabouts of elusive ULFA (I) chief Paresh Baruah in China, authoritative security sources told Deccan Chronicle that the outfit has started fresh extortion drive following a directive of its commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah.
Pointing out that armed ULFA (I) rebels who entered the state to trigger serial bomb blasts have returned back to Myanmar, security sources said that they have also been receiving disturbing inputs on some Chinese agencies that are providing shelter to ULFA (I) chief Paresh Baruah.
Indicating that ULFA (I) has slipped into the control of Chinese agencies, sources further said that pro-talk faction of ULFA was optimistic of bringing back the anti-talk faction to the negotiation table. However, security sources fear that Chinese agencies may not allow it to happen. Sources also claimed that ULFA (I) chief has stopped visiting hideouts in Myanmar.
Refusing to divulge more details on his whereabouts, sources claimed that they have succeeded in tracing his exact location of elusive ULFA (I) chief in China.
Informing that anti-talk faction of ULFA has been targeting tea gardens and some industrial houses in the state to mobilise fund to give a fresh lease of life to its terror network in the state, security sources said that some of the tea garden managements have informed the security agencies and sought their help to resist ULFA (I)’s extortion demand.
Pointing out that ULFA (I) rebels also used Whatsapp to send video of Kuldeep Moran, son of Tinsukia district panchayat vice-president Ratneshwar Moran, abducted by the outfit on August 1 from Tinsukia, security sources said that releasing the video of a person in its captivity in media was aimed at to create panic among the people.
Security sources said that the ULFA (I) rebels have been asked to make their presence felt by resorting to various terror activities. Security sources said that sending video of an abducted person to local media houses was a pre-planned and conscious decision of outfit, getting influenced by Islamic terror network of middle-east countries.
