ULFA (I) begins high-tech recruitment through social media in Upper Assam

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, May 3: If on one hand the combined forces of Assam Police and the army are busy targeting and elimiting cadres of militant outfits active in Assam such as the ULFA  (I) and the NDFB, on the other hand, intelligence and police sources have disclosed about recruitment being done by the banned ULFA, especially from the Upper Assam districts, and this time the banned organization is using social media like Facebook as a powerful tool to attract new faces and talented youths with an high IQ rather than the conventiol method of one-to-one persol contact recruitment.

Top police and intelligence officials on condition of anonymity said, “Inputs are there that the banned ULFA (Independent) group under Sergeant Romen Axom has recruited young boys in between the age group of 18 to 30 years from both Sibsagar and Jorhat. We are monitoring that the ULFA has suddenly become active by opening pages through social media, especially Facebook. They post on a subject and probably prepare a list of those who reply on a very hardcore basis and then follow the screening process and filly selection.”

“Further, the page is mostly Moi Ek Nikhidho Kontho which in English speaks about a banned voice and another popular page is Swadhinota Axom which openly posts pictures of members of the organization and some recent photos of ULFA guerrillas guarding entry and exit of suspected camps, besides pictures of already published pro-ULFA materials in magazines like Ajir Samai. These photographs are generally not made public or cannot be acquired by any individual not having allegiance with the organization. In one such photo posted it shows armed cadres scaling mountains with the caption – ‘Our land is our heritage. To none shall it be surrendered’ and another caption says ‘Pain is temporary and Pride is forever’,” said the officials.

“Incidentally, the Facebook page Moi Ek Nikhidho Kontho has been suspended as per latest inputs and we have reports that based on the short duration activity as many as 10 young boys have been recruited into the organization from Upper Assam and at least five from both Sibsagar and Jorhat, mostly from the rural and bordering areas of the district. Test for their physical abilities and others are likely to be conducted later in their training camps in Myanmar where they are based at present,” added the sources.