"ULFA(I) lures youth through social media": Himanta Biswa Sarma

• Image Credit: Internet

• Apr 8, 2022 | Pratiksha

CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that youth are attracted to ULFA(I) because " It has an organisation having its ideology."

Digital Desk: Over the last few days, the Paresh Baruah-led Ulfa(I) has inducted 47 boys and girls into its ranks. Ahead of the ULFA's foundation day, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Wednesday, blaming a probable "sense of deprivation" for the outfit's ability to exploit platforms like Facebook and YouTube to attract individuals despite numerous cadres laying down guns.

"This process of coming out and going in will continue as long as Ulfa(I) exists," he stated on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of trainee officers at the North Eastern Police Academy in Meghalaya.

Two Guwahati girls are suspected of being among those who joined the organization a few months ago. According to police officials, five boys and girls were recruited in November of last year.

CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that youth are attracted to ULFA(I) because " It has an organisation having its ideology."

However, the Ulfa(I) commander-in-chief recently denied that his organisation was conducting a recruiting campaign on social media channels.

Today marks the 43rd Foundation Day of the United Liberation Front of Asom. ULFA was born on the precincts of Rangghar at Sibsagar on 7th April 1979 by a group of young men led by Paresh Baruah, Arabinda Rajkhowa, Anup Chetia, Pradip Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Gohain, and Budheswar Gogoi. The organization's goal was to wage an armed campaign in order to establish Assam as a distinct sovereign state. The Government of India banned the organisation in 1990 citing it as a terrorist organisation, while the United States Department of States lists it under "other groups of concern."

Notably, although ULFA has reduced its operations to some extent; however it is still active in most parts of Upper Assam. 

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The outlawed ULFA (Independent) group threatened Oil India Limited (OIL) last month that it would take action if an indigenous person was not appointed as the next CMD of the Maharatna PSU.

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) nominated Ranjit Rath, currently the CMD of Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd, for the job of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of OIL, which falls under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Wednesday.

ULFA(I) chairman Paresh Barua stated in an e-mailed statement to the media that the organization had requested the appointment of qualified indigenous people to the positions of CMDs in oil firms based in Assam.

Ahead of its foundation day, Assam Police had issued red alert in the districts of Upper Assam where the ULFA(I) is predominantly active. 

Although the group has extended the truce and has avoided organizing bandhs on Independence Day and Republic Day; however one cannot deny the fact that ULFA(I) is still active in major portions of Assam.