GUWAHATI, Jan 25 � Though the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered cases against the commander-in-chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) Paresh Baruah and other senior leaders of the outfit, the leaders of other active militant groups of the region having links with the ULFA(I) will also come into the ambit of the probe.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that normally the NIA takes up specific cases, and for the first time a broad-based case on the activities of a militant group and its collaborators has been registered by the agency. Sources said that the NIA filed the FIR following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Sources revealed that the case (RC 04/2013) was registered against Paresh Baruah and others under Sections 120 (B), 121/121(A), 384 and 364 (A) of the Indian Penal Code read with Sections 12, 18, 18(A), 18(B), 20, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The case covers all the activities of the militant group, including waging war against the nation, killing, abduction, extortion, intimidation, etc.
Official sources revealed that the collaborators of the ULFA(I) would also come into the ambit of the investigation by the NIA and with almost all the major active militant groups now having links with the outfit, the activities of all would come into the ambit of the investigation. Sources said that an Interpol Red Corner Alert was issued against Paresh Baruah long back and the case of the NIA would also be added to the list of cases for which Baruah is wanted by the Government of India.
Sources revealed that one of the main reasons for registering the case was to deal with the menace of extortion in Assam and other parts of the North East by the militant groups.
It may be mentioned here that the NIA�s action of registering such a case against Baruah on the direction of the MHA came at a time when Baruah is reportedly taking the lead in bringing all the active militant groups of the region on a common platform to wage war against India. Baruah himself went on record that the common platform would be formed soon as all the groups fighting for sovereignty felt the need for fighting �the common enemy� together instead of fighting separately.
