GUWAHATI, June 22 � Even as efforts to bring the banned ULFA to the negotiating table are on, the outfit, especially its 709 battalion, continues to serve extortion letters to various persons, ranging from Government officials to businessmen.
If sources in the police department are to be believed the outfit in the last couple of months had served extortion notes to around 20 persons based in and around the city.
This also include businessmen from Fancy Bazar area.
Of these, however, some are yet to lodge formal complaint with the police.
The recent instance where Agriculture department executive engineer Manik Baishya was served a demand note of Rs 50 lakh by the outfit�s 709 battalion was not an one-off incident that came to the notice of the police.
�We have come across quite a few such demands served in the name of the outfit and investigations are on to find the genuineness of the extortion notices. At the same time we are keeping a track on the activities of the outfit,� said Pradeep Chandra Saloi, Senior Superintendent of Police (City) while talking to this reporter.
He also confirmed that those who have been served the extortion notes also include contractors and businessmen.
Meanwhile, a senior police official, requesting anonymity, informed that the outfit has intensified its extortion drive not only in the city but also outside the city.
