GUWAHATI: The leader of the hardliner Ulfa faction, Paresh Baruah, has a new terror design in mind. He is changing his tactics and improvising to increase his force by teaming up with Manipur-based PLA for joint strikes in the state. The anti-talks Ulfa also joined hands with various other militant outfits from the northeast in Myanmar last week.
These reports have rattled Dispur and chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said a few of his ministers are on Baruah's hitlist.
Confirming TOI reports on Ulfa enlisting the help of the PLA and a merger of NE militant groups in Myanmar, Gogoi said, "It is true that Paresh Baruah is taking help from Manipur's PLA now. I have been informed of this by central intelligence agencies. Security forces have been put on a high alert as the Ulfa-PLA joint operation is planning major strikes. There is threat to some of my ministers, but I don't want to name them."
Despite the Ulfa-PLA terror plans, Gogoi once again appealed to Baruah to come forward and take part in the peace process. "I appeal to Paresh Baruah to come and join the peace process," the CM said, adding that security forces have been instructed to stop Baruah and his men from carrying out any terror strikes at any cost.
Regarding the other TOI report on the Myanmar merger of NE militant outfits, including Ulfa, the chief minister expressed helplessness and said only the Centre was in a capacity to take any action since it was a trans-national matter. "Myanmar has become a hub and a base for northeastern militant outfits. But only the Centre can do anything about this problem," Gogoi said.
In the absence of the pro-talks section of the group, which, led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, has chosen peace over war and arrived at a unilateral ceasefire with the Centre, Baruah is enlisting outside help to garner the strength to strike back in coming weeks. Two back-to-back reports by TOI - one on July 19 of Baruah engaging cadres of Manipur-based PLA and jihadi elements in his group and another, more alarming report on July 20 saying Ulfa, along with NSCN (Khaplang) and all Meitei groups have come together at a common base in Taga Hka in Myanmar - triggered security concerns across the state and the country. Top security sources said the formal unification at Myanmar, which took place last week, brought about 6000 to 7000 militants under one umbrella.
Security agencies have also received confirmed inputs of Baruah pushing in two heavily-armed groups into the state from Myanmar to create terror in the coming weeks; at least 50% of the cadres in both the groups are from the PLA. While one group entered Tinsukia district a few weeks ago, the other group entered Sivasagar through Mon district of Nagaland over the last weekend.
The security agencies have learnt that the two groups that have entered the state have sophisticated weapons and 50% of the Ulfa cadres in each group are new recruits and are not well trained.
The agencies said the targets are very specific - oil installations, particularly pipelines, railway oil tankers and security forces. The group that has entered Tinsukia has about 30 men divided into smaller groups that are concentrating only in the district, where the situation is quite grave.
Paresh Baruah and his deputy, Jibon Moran, are reportedly located at present at Taga Hka area in Kachin in Myanmar, close to the international border with India. Paresh Baruah controls his faction from a 'military mobile HQ'. The PLA has also built its base here after fleeing from Bangladesh.
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