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ULFA: In between talks and violence


The Centre is all set to formally begin peace parleys with ULFA. But the anti-talk faction of the insurgent outfit steps up its activities in some parts of Assam.


Centre’s peace interlocutor P C Haldar is in Guwahati to oversee the preparation of the ULFA-govt talks which is likely to take place in the first week of August. The pro talk faction led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa is busy in giving the final touch to the charter of demands prepared by the Sanmilito Jatiya Abhivartan under the leadership of noted intellectual Dr Hiren Gohain.


Haldar, the former intelligence bureau chief on Tuesday called on governor and apprised him of the progress in terms of the ULFA-govt talks in the absence of chief minister Tarun Gogoi.


On the other hand, the Centre fears regrouping of the Paresh Baruah faction which is all out to strike in the state in form of blast. In set iof advisory, the Union home ministry has asked the Assam government to heavily guard the vital oil and gas installations in view of the martyrs’ day on Wednesday.


ULFA’s bid to strike came to light when security forces apprehended a hardcore ULFA leader Rwittick Hazarika in Sonitpur district bordering Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday. He confessed before police that a group of harcore ULFA rebels have come down to Assam to strike at the instance of Commander in chief Paresh Baruah. Hazarika is the second lieutenant in the outfit’s 27 Battalion. His arrest by a unit of the Assam Rifles comes a day after the Union Home Ministry’s advisory to Assam to step up security in view of the ULFA’s martyrs’ day on July 27.


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