School-going Girl Joins Extremist Group ULFA

Guwahati: In a sensational move, a school-going girl of class X has joined the extremist group of Assam ULFA and notably, this is not the only news of a youth moving to the militants’ group recently. The recent instances have shown many youngsters choosing to join the ULFA which can either be termed as a decision taken out of frustration, depression or lack of decision-making capacity.

The girl, Karishma Mech is a resident of Lekhapani, Tinsukia district and has been missing for a week. Investigations into her disappearance led the police to come to the conclusion that the girl has switched to the ULFA cadre.

IGP(SB) Pallab Bhattacharrya, the No.2 of the Assam police, speaking to the media, stated that strong opposition against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has given “a fresh lease of life” to the activities of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent). Lately, the extremist group has found a good reason to show up and speak on a matter.

He added, “The faultline between Assamese- and Bengali-speakers in the state is a historical one and the proposed Bill has added fuel to it. There was trouble during the language movement of the 1960s and then were was some trouble initially during the Assam movement. But then it had subsided. Now again it has come up.”

Denying the false news that a large scale of people has joined ULFA, Bhattacharrya said that “Since September 1, eight persons have joined the ULFA(I) in Udalguri and Tinsukia districts. Some others have been apprehended. This is the figure we have now.”

On the other hand, another person hailing from Phaneg gaon in Jagun has been confirmed for joining the rebel group United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I).

The person has been identified as Chandra Buragohain. As per a report, he had gone missing since the month of October.

Speaking to the media, Special DGP, Assam Police, Pallab Bhattacharya said, “The proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has given a “fresh lease of life” to the ULFA-I.”

Since September 1, eight youths have joined the ULFA-I, and another eight were apprehended in the process of joining it, informs Pallab.

He further stated that Assam Police have been keeping a strict vigil on ULFA-I attempts to lure youths from Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Golaghat and Udalguri.

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