GUWAHATI, July 8 � The Government of India is likely to adopt a wait and watch policy regarding talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for a political solution of the problems, while, extortion bids by some members of the militant group has become a cause of serious concern.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the Government of India is likely to wait for the ULFA leaders to make the first move for talks. Though a delegation of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) recently met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister with the request to start the process of talks, the Centre is of the view that the ULFA should formally announce its decision to come for talks.
Sources said that the stand of the Government of India on the issue of talks with any militant group is very clear. To start the process of talks, the militant groups must abjure violence and all talks must be held within the framework of the Constitution of India. The ULFA leaders have not so far announced their willingness to come for talks within the framework of the Constitution of India and the Centre would start the process only after receiving a formal communication from the top leaders of the outfit, sources added.
Sources further clarified that as the top leaders of the ULFA including the chairman of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa are under judicial custody, the Government cannot release them. However, they can obtain bail from the court if the State Government does not oppose their bail plea and so far no such decision has been taken, sources added.
The Government is also not aware of the whereabouts of the ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah and though there were reports that he might have moved to Pakistan recently, the reports are yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the intelligence inputs in recent days indicated a division among some of the leaders of the ULFA as the security agencies received intercepts where the hardliners, who are known to be close to Paresh Baruah, directed the cadres not to keep in close contacts with the leaders who are in favour of talks with the Government.
Security sources said that fearing that a number of ULFA cadres might come out if the process of talks starts, the hardliners and close associates of the ULFA commander-in-chief started keeping close watch on the cadres. The ULFA has around a hundred cadres in Myanmar and strict instructions have been given to them not to come into Assam without specific instructions. Despite the crackdown in Bangladesh, at least 60 to 70 cadres of the outfit are still in that country, but they are not in a comfortable position as before as they are forced to live in constant fear of being apprehended by the security forces.
Sources also admitted that there have been growing efforts by the ULFA to launch extortion drives. �But there were instances in the past when some middle level leaders of the ULFA launched such drives to collect money before coming out of the out-fit and such a possibility cannot be ruled out,� sources added.
GUWAHATI, July 8 � The Government of India is likely to adopt a wait and watch policy regarding talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for a political solution of the problems, while, extortion bids by some members of the militant group has become a cause of serious concern.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the Government of India is likely to wait for the ULFA leaders to make the first move for talks. Though a delegation of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) recently met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister with the request to start the process of talks, the Centre is of the view that the ULFA should formally announce its decision to come for talks.
Sources said that the stand of the Government of India on the issue of talks with any militant group is very clear. To start the process of talks, the militant groups must abjure violence and all talks must be held within the framework of the Constitution of India. The ULFA leaders have not so far announced their willingness to come for talks within the framework of the Constitution of India and the Centre would start the process only after receiving a formal communication from the top leaders of the outfit, sources added.
Sources further clarified that as the top leaders of the ULFA including the chairman of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa are under judicial custody, the Government cannot release them. However, they can obtain bail from the court if the State Government does not oppose their bail plea and so far no such decision has been taken, sources added.
The Government is also not aware of the whereabouts of the ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah and though there were reports that he might have moved to Pakistan recently, the reports are yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the intelligence inputs in recent days indicated a division among some of the leaders of the ULFA as the security agencies received intercepts where the hardliners, who are known to be close to Paresh Baruah, directed the cadres not to keep in close contacts with the leaders who are in favour of talks with the Government.
Security sources said that fearing that a number of ULFA cadres might come out if the process of talks starts, the hardliners and close associates of the ULFA commander-in-chief started keeping close watch on the cadres. The ULFA has around a hundred cadres in Myanmar and strict instructions have been given to them not to come into Assam without specific instructions. Despite the crackdown in Bangladesh, at least 60 to 70 cadres of the outfit are still in that country, but they are not in a comfortable position as before as they are forced to live in constant fear of being apprehended by the security forces.
Sources also admitted that there have been growing efforts by the ULFA to launch extortion drives. �But there were instances in the past when some middle level leaders of the ULFA launched such drives to collect money before coming out of the out-fit and such a possibility cannot be ruled out,� sources added.
