DOOMDOOMA, July 9 � At a time when efforts are being made to facilitate peace talks between the government and the banned ULFA, the outfit has intensified its extortion activities in upper Assam, specially in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. The outfit has served extortion notices on the tea planters and traders demanding amount between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 25 lakh.
Two recent incidents in Tinsukia district laid the truth bare. On June 17, suspected ULFA militants created terror in Bajraugpur tea estate situated at Misimikata of Talap under Doomdooma police station. On that day, two militants came to the tea garden office, and burnt down documents opened fire with Ak-47 at the residence of the TE manager. The manager Indra Kumar Baruah had a narrow escape in the incident. Later, it was learnt that ULFA had demanded Rs 10 lakh from the garden and the garden authority did not pay the money.
Similarly, in another incident, suspected ULFA militants burnt down two trucks and the motorbike of the manager of Luit tea estate on July 1 at Phillobari Bijuliban area under Pengeree police station. The manager of the garden Sandhan Kr Tamuly, assistant manger Bhaskar Charingia Phukan and two labourers of the garden were beaten up by the militants. The outfit had asked the owner of the tea estate DC Roy to pay up Rs 10 lakh which they letter never paid, leading to the incident.
According to information, several businessmen of Tinsukia district have left the State after receiving extortion notice from ULFA. On the other hand, taking advantage of the situation, some youths involved in anti-social activities have also started demanding money from the businessmen in the name of ULFA.
