Soccer-struck ULFA blames security forces for being spoilsport

Guwahati, June 18 (UNI) A fugitive former footballer is its Commander-in-Chief and soccer grounds have been discovered in every dismantled camp. No wonder that ULFA militants took the occasion to blame the security pesonnel for allegedly denying the people the chance to watch the Ronaldinhos and Messis weaving magic in the ongoing World Cup.

Soccer-struck United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants in fact devited a specific pragraph in their monthly news letter ''Freedom'', which was e-mailed last night, to this new ''problem''.

According to the ULFA because of the security forces, the people of Asom, have not been able to enjoy the free-kicks of Beckham or that booming left footer of Roberto Carols.

Using it as a propaganda tool, the militants alleged, ''The people of Asom are passing sleepless nights for fear of attacks by occupation forces while the world word is enjoying the football World Cup at Germany.'' This is no surprising coming from the outfit as security forces discovered football and soccer grounds in every major dismantled camp over the past one-and-half years.

Future had something altogether different for ULFA's fugitive Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua, who could well have ended up being a footballer of national repute.

A quite popular footballer in upper Asom, Barua in fact represented the Tinsukia railway division team in the mid seventies.

He excelled as a defender and in fact came to the state reckoning because of his soccer skills.

His teammates in those days, who are now running successfully football coaching schools, remember Barua's love for the game and attitude of a dogfighter. Perhaps that is the reasons his wards are also being encouraged to watch and enjoy the World club.

'' He himself is in Bangladesh in a sophisticated area, '' said IGP Special Branch Khagen Sharma. Barua, by all probability, is glued to the television watching the matches but the case is not the same with others.

With next round of the People's Consultative Group (PCG) talk slated on June 22, the people of the state and the ULFA cadres are hoping to watch the World Cup matches from quarterfinals onward if both the sides can reach a ceasefire.

UNI MT SJC AY BD1236