The anti-talk faction of Ulfa has roped in more than 20 cadres pro-talk Ulfa back to their fold besides intensifying the extortion drive in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Referring to the confession of three hardcore Ulfa rebels — Rongmon Gogoi, Mridul Moran and Rocket Syam — arrested in Arunachal Pradesh, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that coal trades of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya was contributing hugely to Ulfa’s coffer.
Pointing out that coal, oil and tea sector of Arunachal Pradesh was acting as lifeline to the separatist activities in Assam and trouble-torn Tirap and Changlang of Arunachal, security sources said that Rongmon Gogoi, in his confession, named a mining company which was paying to Ulfa quarterly. Though, after division in the outfit, the company started liaisoning with pro-talk faction leaders of Tinsukia district and stopped paying quarterly installment to anti-talk faction of Ulfa.
Informing that a hard-core Ulfa leader Rohendra Moran has sent a consignment of `58 lakh cash to Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah in Burma last week, security sources said that Ulfa commander Drishti Rajkhowa was collecting quarterly installment of contribution from coal syndicate of Assam-Meghalaya.
Admitting that the flow of fund to Ulfa’s coffer was the major area of concern, security sources said that police was exploring the possibility of registering case against companies and individuals paying money to Ulfa and other militant outfits in the northeast. Informing that Ulfa was desperate for money, security sources said that elusive Ulfa chief Praesh Baruah was trying to start training of a batch of new recruits at the end of this year for which 17-18 newly recruited boys have crossed over to Burma.