Missing SULFA man’s body found; Positive progress claimed by Centre in ULFA talks; Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) given one week to surrender; Tension occurs in Arunachal-Assam border; Grenade blast in Assam-Arunachal border
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    • (April 9-15, 2012)

    According to reports, the body of a surrendered ULFA activist missing for the last 14 days was recovered from a forest at Sonapur. Dhruba Talukdar was missing since March 26, 2012 and was allegedly killed by his personal body guard and some businessmen colleagues had disposed of the body at Amchang forest area. The police have arrested the bodyguard and another person, while a massive search operation has been launched to nab four others who are absconding. Talukdar since his surrender was engaged in business activities. 1

    In another development, reports noted that the third round of dialogue between pro-talk ULFA and Government concluded on a positive note, with the Centre claiming to have made tangible progress. The negotiations held at North Block lasted for over 90 minutes. ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa describing the talks as ‘very satisfactory, said discussions were held on the charter of demands presented by the outfit, last year. The next round of talks is now expected to be held after about two months after consultations between the pro-talk group and Centre’s interlocutor, PC Haldar. Following the meeting with the ULFA leaders, the Union Home Secretary held a separate round of meeting with State Government officials, ostensibly to take stock of the peace process. 2

    However, according to reports, the Meghalaya Government served a week’s ultimatum to the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) to surrender all its arms before the government or else ‘force’ would be used against them according to officials. The ultimatum was served following police reports that a large number of youngsters were presently at the camp of the GNLA apart from few armed militants according to Meghalaya Director General of Police N Ramachandran. The police chief warned that security forces will be compelled to use ‘lethal arms’ as the militants are equipped with ‘sophisticated’ weapons. Intelligence sources said about 120 persons were presently housed in the main camp identified by the police in one of the thick jungles of Garo Hills. 3

    According to reports, forest personnel in Assam were attacked on April 11, 2012 by armed men from Arunachal Pradesh near the Assam-Arunachal border in Lakhimpur district, creating fresh tension. Official sources said a group of unidentified persons, heavily armed with guns and bow and arrows, and attacked forest personnel engaged in plantation at Duluong in the Lakhimpur district. Security forces posted along the border rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The forces are maintaining a strict vigil in the area. 4

    In other developments, according to reports, suspected militants triggered a grenade blast at remote Bordumsa area in Tinsukia district of Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. According to police no one was injured. The grenade was lobbed by two motor cycle-borne youth just outside the Bordumsa police outpost. Although police have not named any particular militant for the blast, locals have pointed fingers at the anti-talk faction of the ULFA rebels led by Paresh Baruah alias Paresh Asom, who are very active in the area. There have also been reports of massive extortion drive by the anti-talk faction of the ULFA militants in the area. 5

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