The unified command of security forces in Assam has decided to launch joint operations with its counterpart in Meghalaya to contain the activities of outlawed Ulfa in western Assam and Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers in hills of Karbi Anglong, where a sizeable amount of development fund is alleged to have been going into the coffers of militant outfits.
Sources disclosed that security forces have got clinching evidences that the block development officers, project directors and transport officials in western Assam districts are paying a sizeable amount of the development fund to Ulfa regularly. Authoritative security sources told this newspaper that the meeting of the unified command, which was chaired by Assam director general of police Jayanta Choudhury and the GoC of 21 Mountain Division of Army on Saturday, took note of it and decided to launch the counter-insurgency operations in the hills of Karbi Anglong also.
Informing that additional director general of the police, special task force, Mr R.M. Singh will be heading the operations in western Assam, security sources said that deputy inspector general of the police Anurag Agarwal has been entrusted with responsibility of coordinating the operation against rampaging KPLT in the hills of Karbi Anglong.
Security sources pointed out that Ulfa commander Drishti Rajkhowa was extorting the officers of rural development and transport department in Goalpara and Dhubri districts. Intelligence inputs indicated that government officials, like BDOs and PDs, have committed to pay more to Ulfa rebels soon after the fund allocated for the districts is released to them in March, sources added.
Suggesting that unified command of the security forces has also decided to crack a whip on Ulfa middlemen, sources said trend was very disturbing as the Ulfa was also in process of assembling some improvised explosive devices to plant them in crowded areas of Guwahati and upper Assam.
Sources said counter-insurgency operations was necessary as a batch of newly-trained 60 KPLT rebels have completed their training in a NSCN(K) camp near Dimapur in Nagaland and may join the outfit soon.