The growing nexus between the anti-talk Ulfa and the NDFB has been emerging as an area of concern for the security forces, which is worried about a fledgling alliance between elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah and self-styled military commander of the NDFB I.K. Songbijit in Assam.
Disclosing that these insurgent leaders are holed up in Burma and sharing camps, security sources told this newspaper, “This alliance of convenience emerging between anti-talk Ulfa and NDFB was growing as it helps them in their common objective of derailing the ongoing peace process in Assam.”
Informing that the proposed extradition of jailed Ulfa “general secretary” Anup Chetia from Bangladesh has come as a shocker for elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah, security sources pointed out that the Ulfa is afraid of getting discredited in the eyes of people in case of Mr Chetia joining the peace-process with the government.
Mr Chetia is not only among those who founded the Ulfa but also happens to be a cousin of Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah.
Indicating that the anti-talk faction of the Ulfa and the NDFB have been trying hard to sabotage the ongoing peace process, security sources said that Mr Baruah was very confident that Mr Chetia will reject the proposal of getting extradited to India.
Pointing out that Mr Chetia’s wife, who is also in Bangladesh, has been living with the family of Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah in Dhaka, security sources said that recent intercepts of communications indicate that Ulfa chief was desperate to rope in leaders of pro-talk factions to create a rift in the pro-talk Ulfa.
About the alliance between the Ulfa and the NDFB factions, security sources said that Ulfa is short of trained cadres but have strong connections with illegal arms suppliers whereas the NDFB has sufficient and committed manpower but they require sophisticated arms and ammunition.