A spate of abductions by the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) within a span of three months has brought militancy back on the centrestage in Assam and raised the spectre of a possible re-run of the outfit바카라s violent ways. The alleged involvement of a policeman and civilians have also come as a pointer to the outfit potentially regaining mass support.
In December, the Ulfa faction led by 바카라commander-in-chief바카라 Paresh Barua바카라the only group still active and carring the appendix 바카라Independence바카라 to differentiate itself from its splinter groups바카라kidnapped two officials of the New Delhi-headquartered Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited from Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. They were released separately after over a hundred days.
On April 21, the outfit abducted three employees of the ONGC in Assam. While two of them were rescued by security forces on April 24 following an encounter in Nagaland, the fate of the third employee remains uncertain.
Sources attribute the abductions to the outfit바카라s depleting coffers and yearning to remain relevant after being forced into a corner through relentless operations over the last few years and large-scale arrests and desertions. A former Ulfa leader says the cadres are facing a cash crunch and abduction for ransom is the only way to stay afloat. 바카라Also, such action serves the dual purpose of raising money while painting a picture of the outfit being still alive and kicking,바카라 he adds.
He also explains that matters have only worsened in the outfit바카라s Myanmar camps after the coup in that country. 바카라The situation is not conducive for them바카라they can바카라t stay holed up at one place for long, and all along they have to shell out money for shelter, adding to the financial burden,바카라 he says.
Some militants who escaped from Myanmar and surrendered lately say they could not take it any longer as they would have to go without food at times. Besides, they also complained of 바카라frustration바카라 arising primarily out of non-activity바카라yet another reason cited for the outfit바카라s attempt to return to old ways to keep the flock together.
Following the abduction of the Quippo employees, the Ulfa had demanded Rs 20 crore in exchange for their release. It is not known whether the amount was paid, although there had been protracted negotiation between the outfit and the company. The grapevine has it at least Rs 5 crore did change hands before the duo walked free.
But, as the Ulfa goes about its ways, what must come as shocker to the Assam Police is the involvement of one of its own in the abduction of the ONGC employees.
On April 26, police arrested constable Basanta Buragohain (in pic) for 바카라actively participating in the abduction and for being a part of the entire conspiracy바카라. He was in charge of security at the ONGC바카라s rig site in Lakwa of Charaideo district from where the three were abducted. According to reports, Buragohain had also travelled in the ONGC ambulance used to take away the three employees. Police have arrested 15 other civilians for their complicity in the act.
바카라This is indeed worrisome, after all the good work done to subdue the militants. We will have to take stock and ascertain what motivated him to help in the abduction,바카라 says a police officer on the condition of anonymity.
If the Ulfa바카라s renewed abductions bring back memories of the past, so do the arrests of the policeman and so many civilians together. Both do not portend well for Assam.
By Dipankar Roy in Guwahati
