ULFA talk on brink of collapse

Guwahati, Jul 13: Talks between ULFA and the Centre are on the brink of collapse following the killing of four top ULFA leaders by the army Meghalaya yesterday.

ULFA is talking of revenge while the People Consultative Group (PCG) is peeved at the 'betrayal' of understandig.

An Asom bandh has been called tomorrow, another road blockade on Monday while political parties sinking differences have criticised the army action.

The incident surprised all as both the PCG and the Centre agreed in principle that both sides would maintain restrain to start the direct talks to end the three decades of violence.

''With this attitude further talks with the Centre is meaningless,'' said PCG member Dilip Patgiri. Already there are cries for breaking off the relationship with the Government by the hardcore faction of the PCG.

The militants were killed and three others arrested during a joint operation carried out by the Army's Naga Regiment, Meghalaya Police and Assam Police at Tinfa village under Mendipathar police station in East Garo Hills late last night.

Police identified the slain cadres as 'corporal' of the ULFA's 109 batallion Rubul Ali, '2nd lt' Prabal Dutta, 'lt' Rudra Barua and Dulu Kalita. The arrested cadres have been identified as Hitesh Kalita, Chandan Kalita and Bubul Ali.

A huge cache of arms, including an AK 81 rifle, four European grenades, pistols, several rounds of ammunition and Rs 40,000 in cash were recovered from their possession.

According to intelligence sources, the dreaded 109th battalion and the 'enigma' group of the proscribed outfit had earlier used the Garo Hills forests as a temporary base and a passage to sneak into Bangladesh.

The killing of Rubul Ali, who hails from Borigaon under Ghograpar PS, is considered as a major setback to the outfit.

Taking a stern view of the incidents, the People's Committee for Peace Initiative (PCPI), a conglomerate body of 21 organisations, today called a statewide bandh on Friday to protest the killings. In a statement, PCPI member Lachit Bordoloi slammed the ''dual role'' played by the government. ''It's ridiculous. On one hand the government shows eagerness to hold parleys and on the other, they are carrying out such mindless killings,'' Bordoloi said.

The body has also announced a statewide rail-cum-road blockade on July 17.

The Centre had hardened their stand following the report of extortion attempt by the ULFA on the RBI. The Centre said the militant outfit's actions, like the extortion notice to RBI, vitiated the process and asked it to ensure ''a peaceful and conducive'' environment to facilitate release of five detainees''.

Mr Patgiri pointed out that the security forces carried out two back to back operations killing six militants. ''It came at a time when the militants maintained complete silence ensuring a violence free state,'' he added .

The incidents and the aftermath have once again brought the state right into the mayhem with the security agencies fearing that militant group might try to ride on the emotional wave of the ordinary people.

In another incident, two ULFA militants, Pradip Rajbongshi and Mrinal Rajbongshi, were killed in an encounter with the Army at Baglamari village in Nalbari district the previous night.

In the last round of talks, the Centre had assured the PCG to ''favourably consider'' release of top ULFA leaders to facilitate talks, but had warned the organisation to desist from activities that could jeorpardise the peace process.

Reports of extortion carried out by the outfit, compelled New Delhi to issue another warning to the outfit on Monday to desist from such ''pinpricks'' in order to ensure a congenial atmosphere for direct talks.

UNI