In a significant development, the Assam police on Monday arrested a top Ulfa leader of the pro-talk faction, Hira Sarania, in connection with a case of extortion dacoity, killing and kidnapping.
Senior superintendent city police A.K. Tiwari said, “We have arrested Hira Sarania in connection with a sensational case of dacoity in the house of businessman Rajen Lohia.”
Informing that Vineet Jain, manager of Rajen Lohia, was also involved in the incident of dacoity, Mr Tiwari said that confession of Ulfa leader has revealed that Vineet Jain, who was missing since August 4, is suspected to have been killed by the Ulfa leader after a dispute in sharing the money looted from the house of Mr Lohia.
The sensational incident of dacoity, which took place on July 31, had come as a shock for the residents of Guwahati as it took place in Chritianbasti area in the heart of the city.
The SSP said that the Ulfa leader was also wanted in cases of extortion. It is significant that Sarania, a dreaded Ulfa leader, also visited New Delhi in a delegation of pro-talk Ulfa leaders holding talks with Delhi.
Sarnia, who was commander of the self-styled 709 battalion of Ulfa, before joining the peace process with Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, was picked up by a team of city police from his house in Nalabari on Monday.
Three other associates of Sarania, including an advocate who hatched the conspiracy of dacoity and extortion, were also arrested.
The arrest of Sarania has assumed significance in the wake of ongoing peace talks with the government. Sarania was one of the most dreaded Ulfa rebels who joined the peace process after the government decided to release Rajkhowa to start peace talks.
The SSP said that there were serious charges against Sarania of threatening traders for extortion. “We are not going to compromise on any such element who is taking advantage of peace talks to run an extortion network in the city,” said Mr Tiwari.