Short on cadre, ULFA brings in youth to the conflict

Guwahati, Oct 18 (UNI) Falling short of dedicated cadre, proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was now using school going children to carry out blasts in the insurgency-hit state, arrests made in some recent cases suggest.

On Monday night police arrested a ten-year-old unidentified boy at Bongaigaon immediately after he had thrown a grenade on the Railway station, while another identified as Gautam Kalita, a class VII student from Rangia, died on the previous day at Kahilipara, when the bomb he was carrying went of.

The Bongaigaon police said the boy was paid Rs 100 to carry out the task.

''This is most horrifying,'' said Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi talking to newspersons. ''How can they bring children and students to conflict,'' he said.

Asom Governor Lt Gen Ajay Sinha condemned the incidents and asked where were the custodians of human rights who were always ready to point a finger at the government.

The All Asom Students Union (AASU) has also expressed concern.

''Students are students. The militants cannot exploit them,'' the student outfit said.

AASU President Sankar Prasad Ray said, ''We believe in non-violence. It is unfortunate that an armed organisation in Asom has been using students and children in its armed movement, and this new trend will do more damage to the society than ever before. The Government should take steps to solve all outstanding issues with the rebel group through peace talks.'' Tinsukia district Deputy Commissioner Absar Hazarika said students in his district were ''bribed with money, cars, motor-cycles and cell phones to carry out blasts and throw grenades in public places''.

Mr Hazarika further revealed that a student of XII standard from Tinsukia was arrested for involvement in a grenade attack in Digboi.

The boy identified as one Jolen Moran was a student of Somar Bidyapith, Tinsukia. ULFA was paying for Moran's education and accommodation. The police was still on the look out for two absconding friends of Jolen, who were ULFA linkmen, Mr Hazarika said.

Besides students, unemployed village youth were also easy target for the banned outfit. They were being lured into insurgent activities by doling out easy money and other facilities.

The use of students and children in its armed struggle by the ULFA will remain a ''blot on human civilization'', says the All Asom Tai Ahom Students Union(AATSU).

All Koch-Rajbonshi Students' Union (AKRSU) President Atul Ray said ''armed organisations'' should ''avoid'' killing innocent civilians, and the government should also take sincere steps to solve the issues involved.

Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) general secretary Pulok Choudhury also condemned the recent killings by ULFA. He the government should nip the recent trend, adopted by the banned outfit, in its bud.

UNI MT BA YA MIR SND1338