'Pak-returned ULFA cadres triggered Asom blasts'

Guwahati, June 14: The recent spate of bombings in Asom has been orchestrated by the Pakistan-trained bomb experts of ULFA.

This was informed by Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) (IGP-SB) Khagen Sharma at a press meet here today.

He also said such types of pattern carpet bombing increased after the return of the Pakistan-trained militants Mr Sharma substantiated his claim with the list of 22 United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres, who were sent to Pakistan for training via Dhaka. '' In Dhaka they were kept in safe houses and only to be picked by the ISI through special flight arrangement to Karachi, where they are met by a big Pakistani, '' the IGP said.

Six cadres, including 'Maj' Bening Rabha and 'Lt' Mrinal Hazarika, were sent to the neighbouring country in 2002 as per orders of ULFA commamder-in-chief Paresh Barua. Again, in 2004, a group of 16 cadres in batches of four had been sent to the same country through Bangladesh, he stated.

Mr Sharma revealed that training to the 16 cadres sent in 2004 was given at a camp at Batrossi Hills of Mansera district in Pakistan. He also said the cadres were provided with fake Bangladeshi passports by another ULFA cadre 'Lt' Pranjit Saikia of Darrang district of Asom.

The SB IGP maintained that the cadres took routes along Karachi and Rawalpindi to reach the training camps and were helped by ISI officials in their journey.

The 16 cadres included '2nd Lt' Ashanta Rajguru, '2nd Lt' Marine Das, 'CPL' Madhurjya Gohain, 'Capt' Biju Deka, 'Lt Col' Chitrabon Hazarika and 'Maj.' Ashanta Baghphukan.

The Special Branch claimed that they had prior information of the entire bombings but could not stop because the ULFA chose off target. '' But we did prevent some, '' he said.

UNI

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