Ulfa denies links with Islamic militant groups

Guwahati: The pro-talks faction of Ulfa has denied allegations that the outfit has links with Islamic militant groups. The leaders of the wing, who had started peace parleys with the government in 2011, said they have no connection with such groups.
Intelligence agencies have been claiming that the outfit has strong nexus with Huji and other Islamic militant groups.
A senior leader of the pro-talks faction of Ulfa, who appeared in a lower court here on Monday, said the outfit never shared radical ideologies like those who believe in jihad. “The Ulfa has been, in principle, opposed to fundamentalism and religious bigotry since its inception. Ulfa’s aim is to achieve the rights of indigenous people of Assam beyond religious brackets. Our ideology is completely separate from those of the jihadis,” he added.
However, the leader didn’t rule out the possibility of a nexus between Islamic groups and the Paresh Baruah-led Ulfa (Independent). “It’s difficult to say. Now, the hardliner faction is under Paresh Baruah and we have no idea how it’s operating now,” he said.
The recent revelation of Islamic forces that they are trying to make inroads into Muslim-dominated areas of Assam has put Assam Police and security agencies on high alert. Assam Police have also launched an operation to nab the members of sleeper cells of Islamic militant groups following the arrest of six Jammat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) members from Barpeta.