Expert motorcycle rider is ULFA's recruitment eligibility

Guwahati, Aug 25 (UNI) The outlawed ULFA is recruiting youths in Assam frequently, and one necessary requisite for anyone to get recruited is that he or she be an expert motorcycle rider, police here said.

''Learn to ride a motorcycle. Once you are an expert, we will induct you,'' one Rinku Das quoted ULFA '28th Battalion' 'sergeant major' Ankur Shyam as telling him.

Ankur Shyam is one of the dreaded ULFA rebels in Upper Assam's Sivasagar, and is said to have led many subversive activities--from bombs to extortions--in the district.

One of the confidantes of the dreaded ULFA cadre Ankur, Rinku was arrested from his residence at Jail Gaon near Disangmukh in Sivasagar last night.

Sivasagar SP Shyamal Prasad Saikia said the joint team of police and Army, which raided Rinku's house, recovered a grenade and some incriminating documents.

''Rinku confessed to have planted the bomb that went off near the ASTC bus terminus in the heart of Sivasagar on August 5 last,'' the SP said, adding that another ULFA rebel had also accompanied Rinku in the act.

However, Mr Saikia, said Rinku was not a 'primary' member of the rebel outfit even though he carried out the acts.

''He was planning to join the ULFA. But Rinku revealed that Ankur had asked him to learn riding a motorcycle before he could be inducted,'' the SP said.

In fact, a couple of days back, Rinku fell from a motorcycle while learning to ride it, and fractured his hand.

The SP said bruises and bandage were still on Rinku's hand.

The accused had been forwarded to 2-day police remand and investigation was on.

UNI