ULFA playing into hands of Pakistan-backed ISI: Army

Guwahati, Apr 20 (UNI) The Indian Army today categorically said the ULFA, operating from safe havens in Bangladesh, was playing into the hands of the Pakistan-based ISI.

''The United Liberation Front of Asom is no longer in control of its destiny. In fact, the ISI has been calling the shots for the ULFA. The Army has no hesitation in saying this,'' GOC of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps Lt Gen R K Chhabra told a press conference here.

General Chhabra mentioned that India had raised the concerns of jihadi elements with Bangladesh off and on.

However, there has been no positive response worth mentioning from the neighbouring country.

Intelligence reports clearly state that the ULFA top brass, including its 'c-in-c' Paresh Barua, are based at Bangladesh. They are also running sundry business running to the tune of several billion dollars to West Asia from Bangladesh.

Maintaining that fundamentalist activists are ''backroom boys'' in Asom now, General Chhabra said the jihadi activists who have sneaked into the state are engaged in gun running, fake currency business and other anti-social activities as of now. ''However, at times they resort to anti-national activities. But we are keeping a close vigil on the areas suspected to be bastions of the jihadis,'' he said.

The Army has intensified patrol and vigil in the 'sar' and 'chapori' areas along the Brahmaputra. These places are believed to be safe havens of the jihadi elements.

Mentioning that a number of activists of the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Asom (MULTA) have fallen in the Army net in the last couple of years, General Chhabra admitted the strong presence of jihadi elements in Asom and the North East.

Serious concerns have been raised from reports that the jihadi elements have spread their tentacles to far and wide in the NE region.

While most of these outfits operate from Bangladesh, Foreign Minister of the neighbouring country Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said on April 5 that his caretaker government had assured New Delhi that it will not allow terrorist groups to operate from there.

UNI