The Government of India has “concrete evidence” that Paresh Baruah, the commander in chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), has been living in Yunnan Province of China over the last two and half months, along with a few of his close aides, reported assamtribune.com Nov 12. The report noted that China has been denying over the years that the ULFA leader was frequently visiting that country. However, India now has concrete evidence of the presence of Baruah in Yunnan province.
The report said Baruah has been involved in gun-running from his base in China, although it was stated to be not known whether he was receiving any direct help from the Chinese authorities.
The report cited sources as saying weapons discarded by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army as a part of the country’s modernization drive were being collected by clandestine weapon dealers and that almost all the major insurgent groups of North East India were buying those weapons.
The report also said the government of India had conclusive evidence that Baruah had been calling up from China a few prominent businessmen in Assam, mostly those based in Guwahati city, demanding substantial amounts of protection money from them.
The report also cited India’s Home Ministry as saying NSCN (I-M), an underground group from Nagaland state which has been under a cease-fire agreement with the Government since 1997, was also running a small set up in Yunnan province. Its senior leader Anthony Shimrey was arrested in India when he was returning from China. The NSCN is believed to be maintaining a base in China for the purpose of engaging in gun-running business.
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