ULFA (I) Militants: Situation Improving in Tinsukia District

Our Correspondent

TINSUKIA: With the safe return of Gauranga Deb, a fitter of Sankar Tea Estate from the clutches of ULFA (I) and the surrender of two ULFA (I) militants on Friday, the situation in militancy-inflicted Tinsukia district seems to have eased to an extent. Such a development came close on the heels of 30 militants laying down arms in the past couple of months in the district.

Counseling of young boys on the futility of joining the ULFA in the militancy-prone areas in the district seems to have started yielding results.

As the Myanmar Army began a crackdown on Northeast-based militant camps primarily in Kachin province, the militants started fleeing the camps and taking shelter in Arunachal Pradesh. A good number of ULFA (I) militants, following differences with their higher-ups, started sneaking into Tinsukia district. However, due to intense anti-insurgency operation in the district many militants surrendered with arms before the security forces in recent times.

According to police sources, some militants who had fled the Myanmar camps embarked upon extortion etc just for their sustenance. The recent kidnapping of Gauranga Deb and his subsequent release with the capture of two ULFA(I) militants might throw some light on the modus operandi of these militants, said a source, adding that as the interrogation was on, the police was yet to establish any link between the two events.

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