Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Guwahati, September 27 2010:
The division in the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) leadership has become no longer a secret now.
On Monday, the ULFA came down heavily on its jailed chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa accusing him of masterminding a split within the ULFA.
This charge on Rajkhowa came at the back drop of the mysterious disappearance of its 19 leaders from Bangladesh.
In an email press communique, the ULFA said, "Sitting in jail, you (Rajkhowa) are hatching a whole lot of conspiracies to divide us.
We urge you to desist from such acts or else you will be held responsible for the division in the outfit".
According to the communique, the 19 ULFA leaders in question were not arrested by the police or security forces in Bangladesh.
"They were rather brought to the Indo-Bangla border with assistance from Indian intelligence agencies as planned earlier" .
The statement of Ulfa claimed that two of its jailed leaders were directly involved in the process.
The ULFA press note said, "It was planned in the jail in the presence of Centre's interlocutor in Ulfa talks PC Haldar.
The drama was enacted two days after Haldar had left Assam".
Earlier, officials of intelligence agencies had said that the 19 Ulfa leaders were arrested in Bangladesh and later handed over to the Border Security Force.
Meanwhile, after initial denial, the Assam Government on Monday said that the Ulfa leaders were in the state along with their family members.
Chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi said, "Yes, they are now in Assam.
They weren't arrested rather they came on their own volition", while adding, "We are hopeful that others will follow suit".
Sources said that the 19 ULFA leaders were kept in some remote villages in Nalbari and Baksa districts under the supervision of a dreaded militant of the outfit.
Tarun Gogoi disclosed that the government was trying to get in touch with elusive Ulfa military chief Paresh Barua in order to convince him to participate in the dialogues.
The Assam chief minister said, "We are waiting for him.
However, we cannot wait for an indefinite period.
After all, the process of talks has to start," the chief minister said.
"So far, we haven't got any indication that Paresh Baruah will come for the dialogues".