GUWAHATI, April 6 (IANS): To counter the anti-talk faction of the ULFA which marks its raising day Saturday, former rebels are organising a two-day volleyball tournament.
The raising day will be celebrated by the ULFA faction led by its elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah alias Paresh Asom.
The pro-talk faction, which has been negotiating peace with the government under the leadership of Arabinda Rajkhowa, inaugurated the volleyball competition Friday in Sipajhar in Darrang district.
Founded April 7, 1979, UlFA sought to establish a 'sovereign Assam' through armed struggle.
It suffered a split after most of its leaders including Rajkhowa were arrested in Bangladesh in December 2009. The group then decided to go for peace talks with New Delhi.
But Paresh Baruah has continued his armed struggle from bases in Myanmar and China.
"All our designated camps across Assam are organizing the raising day Saturday," said Raju Baruah of the pro-talk faction of the ULFA. Baruah was earlier deputy chief of the outfit's military wing.
"At Sipajhar a volleball match will be held to commemorate the raising day," he said.
Five national level teams including Central Reserve Police Force, Delhi, Punjab Police, Border Security Force, Jalandhar and North Frontier Railway will take part in the tournament.
So will teams from Assam Police, Maligaon Railway and Northern Railway.
