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ULFA likely to target oil companies

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, June 11 � Intelligence inputs about a plan by members of the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to target the oil companies has sent alarm bells ringing in the administration and all the district police forces have been alerted to thwart any such move.

Highly-placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that the anti-talk faction of the ULFA, headed by the commander in chief of the outfit, Paresh Baruah is desperate to strike to make its presence felt as the talks with the pro-talk faction are scheduled to resume soon, and in recent months, the outfit has recruited more than a hundred cadres. Some of the new recruits have also been taken to Myanmar for training, while, the others are being kept in the State.

Sources said that though the upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar are considered most vulnerable, the police forces of all the districts have been alerted to keep close watch on the situation in the wake of the fresh threat.

As per information available with the security agencies, 35 hardcore militants including a few well-trained cadres have already entered Assam from the bases of the outfit in Myanmar and they have been given target to indulge in acts of violence to make the outfit�s presence felt in the State.

Sources said that the oil companies including the public sector companies and the firms engaged by the PSUs for various works including drillings are considered most vulnerable at this moment. The ULFA may even try to kidnap Oil officials or contractors. At one point of time, the ULFA managed to extort money from the contractors engaged by the oil companies, but they have not been able to do so in recent times and the outfit may try to strike to show its strength, sources added. At the same time, the police and security forces have also been directed to keep close watch on oil installations including pipelines.

The possibility of the anti-talk group ULFA members targeting the pro-talk faction members also cannot be ruled out, sources said.

Security sources revealed that the group of ULFA men, who have been sent to Assam for indulging in acts of violence, have been directed to look for soft target as the leaders of the outfit are careful of not losing their men, particularly the well trained men. The possibility of the ULFA using members of other militant outfits to indulge in acts of violence also cannot be ruled out as in the past also, the outfit carried out such acts to avoid arrests.

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