Assam: Ulfa, NDFB induct new cadres

Though insurgency-related violence has decreased, two frontline separatist groups, Ulfa (Independent) and the Songbijit faction of NDFB, have started fresh recruitment of cadres in at least four districts of Assam.

While stating that at least nine to 10 boys had already joined Ulfa (I), sources said that most of these boys would not be made armed cadres, but trained for extortion.

Pointing out that NDFB (S) was re-inducting its old recruits, security sources said that “anti-talk” factions of the Ulfa and NDFB were operating from Myanmar.

Referring to intercepts and other communications, they said that militants were using ATMs to transfer money from one place to another.

Informing that they had received tip offs regarding two NDFB cadres depositing money in a bank account in Kokrajhar, security sources said that the money was withdrawn from an ATM in Mon district of Nagaland by NDFB cadres. In this connection, security forces arrested at least two Bodo rebels from the Bodoland Territorial Council recently.

Indicating that they were pro-actively trying to block such money transfers, security sources revealed that both outfits were now not in a position to create major trouble in the state.

Ulfa (I) had tried in vain to push in a few cadres in the upper Assam districts on the eve of the elections to create trouble, said sources. Meanwhile the NDFB (S) leaders are on the run and their strength has come down drastically in the last two years, they said.

About recruitment, security sources pointed out that top Ulfa (I) leaders were requesting sympathisers to provide them with boys who are willing to join the outfit.

Ulfa (I) leaders have apparently been trying to extort money from upper Assam districts and are calling up a number of tea garden owners and managers, contractors and other businessmen. Security sources, however, said that the outfit doesn’t have cadres in the field to collect the money. Sources claimed that NDFB (S) leaders had called up a number of government officials but there have been no reports of whether anyone paying any money to the ultras.