Ulfa-I has 21 new recruits: Police

GUWAHATI: At least 21 youths, including a woman, have joined the Paresh Baruah-led Ulfa (Independent), police sources said.
After the attack on a convoy of the Army's 15 Kumaon Regiment, in which three jawans were killed and four injured, security forces launched a massive search operation in various villages in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar districts and those on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh and Assam-Nagaland borders.
"Some of the youths, linkmen for Ulfa (I), have fled the villages where search operation is on. But at least 21 youths from Tinsukia district, including a woman, have reportedly joined the outfit. Most of them have a history of petty crime," a police source said. The group also includes computer-skilled youths.
Investigation revealed that those involved in the attack were not local. "Cadres from different districts were involved in the attack. Most of them, however, were from Nagaland," sources said.
Assam Police DGP Mukesh Sahay has already said the militant group has been recruiting fresh cadres, adding, "The formation of the United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW), an umbrella body of militant groups from the northeast, has aided Ulfa (I)'s resurgence. Headed by Naga rebel leader SS Khaplang has been playing a vital role."
Sahay went on to say that police have identified those involved in the convoy attack.
On Sunday, Tinsukia Police arrested one Tarun Moran alias Jantu from the Lakkhipathar area. Police said he is a prime linkman of the outfit and involved in an extortion racket. "Police have seized several demand letters from his possession," security sources informed. However, denying that Tarun is a member of Ulfa (I), the outfit publicity secretary Arunodoi Asom in an email statement blamed security forces for plotting fake arrests and violating human rights. "Tarun is a spy of the security forces and it's nothing but a stunt," Ulfa (I) said.