Thaindian News

Guwahati, Apr 30 (ANI): Pro-talk United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leader Mrinal Hazarika has said that the faction is facing an acute shortage of funds.

“We have not been given any amount by the government, nor do we have any resources given to us by the public. That is why, since the past eight to nine months, about 450 cadres have been facing a lot of difficulty. We have to overcome this. We need money to carry forward our policy,” Hazarika told reporters on Friday.

With dipping income sources, several ULFA cadres have been accused by several locals of forming mafia-like syndicates and indulging in extortions and crime.

Hazarika, however, dismissed these allegations, saying that members of the ULFA had never committed such acts.

“ULFA members can never indulge in crimes committed by mafia syndicates. We have never committed such acts. Everything we do to acquire money is done through legal businesses,” he added.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday assured full assistance to the surrendered cadres.

He said the Centre was paying off the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction of ULFA to keep them away from carrying out extortion and anti-national activities.

“It is true that they are yet to declare ceasefire but we have asked them not to get into any kind of extortion and so this allowance is being given to them,” Gogoi said.

Senior functionaries of ULFA, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, have entered into unconditional talks with the Centre to find a solution to the violence that had gripped Assam for over two decades. (ANI)