ULFA wants ouster of Bangladeshi, Nepali migrants from Assam

New Delhi, Oct 12 : The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has sought expulsion of Bangladeshi immigrants from Assam, a demand that is significant as most of the top leaders of the outfit are believed to be sheltered in the neighbouring country.

ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, who made it clear that his outfit will not tolerate any kind of intrusion in Assam, also sought ouster of Nepali migrants from the state.

"ULFA opposes any kind of intrusion in Assam. Not only Bangladeshi intruders, migrants from Nepal must also be identified and deported," Rajkhowa told a news agency.

The demand for ouster of Bangladeshis is significant as ULFA's top leaders, including Rajkhowa and Paresh Barua, are believed to be taking shelter in Bangladesh and directing operations from there.

Expulsion of illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Assam has been a major political issue in the state and a cause for community clashes there several times.

Rajkhowa, who is said to be a proponent of talks within the group, also seemed to be unperturbed by the arrest of members of the People's Consultative Group (PCG), which is a mediator between the central government and the insurgent group.

"The arrest of PCG members by India neither had any impact upon the ULFA's endeavour for a peace process to resolve the conflict nor did it succeed to harm the process," he said when asked to comment on the arrests.

Rajkhowa alleged that the arrests indicated that the central government was opting for military solution ignoring the peaceful political resolution.

ANI