Imphal, February 11, 2010: Ulfa's self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah is trying to regroup the cadres to derail the peace process initiated in Assam, chief minister Tarun Gogoi today said.

�Paresh Baruah, with a handful of his supporters, is trying to regroup the residual cadres for a showdown in the coming days apparently to derail the peace process which seems to be in the offing with the arrest of many top leaders,� Gogoi said here.

Stating that right from the inception of Ulfa in 1979, the Myanmar-based NSCN (K) has been offering assistance and logistic support to it, Gogoi did not rule out the possibility of Baruah taking its help for shelter in that country.

Following the arrest of top ULFA leaders in Bangladesh, including chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and Baruah's deputy Raju Baruah, Paresh fled to Myanmar recently.

The arrest of the top leaders at the initiative of the central government, he said, had led to a remarkable drop in violence during the past couple of months and was especially reflected on Republic day which went off peacefully.

�Although this is a positive development, security forces cannot afford to be complacent�.

The Ulfa, Gogoi said, was also on the backfoot following declaration of unilateral ceasefire by a section of its cadre in 2008.Like Baruah, the chairman of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Ranjan Daimary was still in Bangladesh and was reportedly trying to establish contact with forces inimical to the country, Gogoi said.

Stressing the need to increase vigilance on the Indo-Myanmar border, the chief minister said it should be ensured that extremist and anti-national elements do not sneak into the state through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur to launch recruitment drives.

The chief minister said the activities of NSCN (IM), were on the rise in the border districts of Assam including North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar and Tinsukia.

Another disturbing factor, he said, was attempt by leftists elements to influence adivasi and other tribal youths in the state.

�The Maoist have, however, not been able to make any visible inroads in the state although there have been attempts to influence the adivasi and tribal communities,� he said.

�There are also reports about Maoists trying to infiltrate Nepali-dominated areas along the Indo-Bhutan border.

A close watch is being maintained in these areas,� he said.

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