Ulfa's extortion notice to top Arunachal politicians

Guwahati: In what has surcharged the political atmosphere of the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh, the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) has started serving extortion notices to the political leaders of the state.

The self-style Eastern Command of Ulfa (I) on Saturday served extortion demand of Rs 10 lakh to the ex-education minister of the state Mr Bida Taku. Mr Taku, who contested last assembly election and lost against the deputy CM Chowna Mein told this newspaper that another extortion notice worth Rs 5 lakh was served to his election agent also.

Pointing out that demand note was served by some youths at Namsai, Mr Taku said that he doesn’t have his house to live in. “I have been constructing a house at Namsai in my home constituency to which I represented as the education minister,” said Mr Taku while regretting that it has not gone down well in local BJP circle. “I also hosted a public meeting at Namsai recently which was attended by a large number of people,” said Mr Taku suspecting that his political opponents may be involve in provoking the armed rebel groups to serve the demand note.

Former minister, who threatened to take up this issue at the highest level, suspected the involvement of some local political leaders in provoking the Ulfa (I) to target him.

The Ulfa (I) in its extortion demand, a copy of which is in possession of this newspaper, has threatened the former minister of dire consequences if he fails to fulfill the demand. It is significant that Ulfa (I) has been using the frontier state as corridor to reach their hideouts in Myanmar. The home ministry has expressed its concern on growing activities of Assam militants in the frontier states.

In a review meeting chaired by union home minister Rajnath Singh recently, the home ministry has asked Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland police to stop the movement of armed rebel groups in their territory.