Ulfa(I) sends extortion notices via WhatsApp

Guwahati: The anti-talk faction of Ulfa(I) has served extortion notices to two big tea gardens of Assam in order to grab attention in the run up to the Global Investor Summit, February next year in Guwahati.

Disclosing that security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operation have been asked to intensify their operations against Ulfa (I) in Upper Assam districts, security sources told this newspaper that ransom demand was sent on WhatsApp.

This has come close on the heels of ongoing preparation for BJP led government’s mega event, Global Investors Summit on February 3 and 4 which will be inaugurated by Prime minister Narendra Modi.

The additional director general of police (special branch) Pallab Bhattacharya said that they have succeeded in identifying the Ulfa (I) rebel who was sending the extortion notices as WhatsApp message wa followed by a call which originated from Myanmar.

He said that outfit, which is facing serious financial crunch, is also trying to make their presence felt by targeting the plantation industry.

It is significant that about 300-teagardens out of Assam’s 800 are located in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Upper Assam. Area under Tea plantation in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia is about 1, 75,000 hectares.

Security sources, however, said Ulfa (I) was targeting some other sectors also for extortion but majority of them are found to have been ignoring the Ulfa (I) threat.

Indicating that taking the advantage of geographical proximity with Arunachal Pradesh, security sources said that some Ulfa (I) rebels sneak into Upper Assam districts but failed to strengthen their footholds.

Informing that security forces are keeping a close watch on their movement, security sources said that vigil along the international border with Myanmar has also been intensified and now it is highly challenging for Ulfa (I) rebels to com out of their camps in Myanmar.