Bangladesh crackdown puts pressure on ULFA chief
December 27th, 2010 - 9:05 pm ICT by IANSShillong, Dec 27 (IANS) The crackdown on the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Bangladesh will force its elusive leader Paresh Baruah to rethink his intransigent stand, a top official said Monday.”Baruah is under tremendous pressure because of the crackdown by Bangladeshi authorities. He will give up some day,” Inspector General of Border Security Force (Assam-Meghalaya) R.C. Saxena told IANS.
Baruah is believed to be in hiding somewhere along the Myanmar-China border after fleeing Bangladesh early 2008.
“These crackdowns (against ULFA) will surely make a positive impact, especially at a time when the peace process with the ULFA is on a right track,” Saxena said.
On Saturday, Bangladesh authorities seized 97 bullets, a grenade, seven fuses, three satellite phone sets and a mobile set from Bakakura village in Sherpur district adjacent to India’s Meghalaya state.
On Dec 18, they recovered 13,680 rifle bullets - equivalent to 57 packets of ammunition - in plastic sacks from an abandoned room of an octogenarian, Wasir Uddin.
Dhaka last year launched a massive crackdown against the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and got several of their top leaders arrested and handed them over to India.
Among those arrested last year were ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury and finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika. The government is now freeing these leaders on bail to pave the way for peace talks.
ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, however, is in Bangladesh since his arrest there in 1997.
There are chances of Chetia now being extradited to India to help him take part in the proposed peace talks due to start soon.
However, Baruah, who has taken a hard line on the issue of peace talks, has asked ULFA leaders not to compromise or surrender before the Indian government on the outfit’s goal and ideology.
“We are not opposed to talks (per se),” Baruah said.
The ULFA has been fighting to secede Assam from India since 1979.
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- ULFA leaders in Bangladesh, Myanmar to surrender: Pillai (Interview) - Jun 06, 2010
- ULFA's Chetia reapplies for asylum in Bangladesh - Nov 20, 2011
- Split in ULFA ranks as 19 commanders opt for peace - Sep 25, 2010
- 19 ULFA rebels in Assam Police custody - Sep 25, 2010
- Explosives, bullets found in Bangladesh - Dec 26, 2010
- Talks soon with ULFA: Interlocuter Haldar - Dec 17, 2010
- Bullets left behind by ULFA found in Bangladesh village - Dec 25, 2010
- Bangladesh hands over three ULFA rebels - Feb 05, 2011
- ULFA holds peace talks, says meeting positive - Aug 05, 2011
- ULFA moves towards peace talks with government - Jan 18, 2011
- 19 ULFA commanders have come for talks: chief minister - Sep 27, 2010
- ULFA ready for talks if jailed leaders released - Jan 09, 2010
- ULFA chief Rajkhowa released from jail - Jan 01, 2011
Tags: anup, assam, border security force, deputy commander, finance secretary, indian government, intransigent, massive crackdown, meghalaya, national democratic front, peace process, peace talks, plastic sacks, raju baruah, rifle bullets, satellite phone, saxena, shillong, united liberation front, wasir