Assam CM terms Ulfa-I ceasefire as a ‘ray of hope’
Assam police in a breakthrough on Tuesday apprehended the Ulfa-I cadres involved in the Tingri grenade blast in which two civilians were killed.
Special Director General of Police G P Singh lauded the role of Tinsukia police for the breakthrough.
The CM while renewing his appeal to Ulfa-I commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah to join the peace process reiterated that people of Assam are fed up with bloodshed and violence.
In what has suddenly brought anti-talk faction of outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent into limelight, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that his government was taking the unilateral ceasefire announcement of ceasefire by Ulfa-I as a “ray of hope”.
The day Assam police in a breakthrough caught the perpetrator of a grenade blast killing two civilians, Mr Sarma told reporters, “We are looking into the announcement of unilateral ceasefire by the Ulfa-I as a ray of hope. But, this doesn’t imply that the Ulfa-I would be allowed to carry on with its subversive activities. We will take action against Ulfa-I when need arises.”
The chief minister while renewing his appeal to Ulfa-I commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah to join the peace process reiterated that people of Assam are fed up with bloodshed and violence.
“Since 1979 (when Ulfa came into existence) Assam has seen a lot of bloodshed and violence and it has helped none. Paresh Baruah (Ulfa-I chief) must pay heed to the wishes of the people of Assam. People of Assam want peace, not violence,” he said after meeting the family members of Mr Ritul Saikia, an employee of the ONGC, who was abducted by the Ulfa-I.
Mr Sarma said that the abducted ONGC employee has been taken to Myanmar and was in good health so far.
“We are trying our level best to rescue him from the captivity of his abductors at the earliest,” the chief minister assured the old parents of the ONGC employee who was kidnapped by Ulfa-I cadres along with two other ONGC employees on April 21.
The two other abducted employees of the ONGC – Mohini Mohan Gogoi and Alakesh Saikia, were rescued on April 24 after an encounter with security forces and help of local villagers near the IndoMyanmar border in Mon district of Nagaland.
Earlier, the Ulfa-I was denying the presence of an ONGC employee in its captivity but on Tuesday Ulfa-I chief Paresh Baruah again spoke to a local news channel and admitted that ONGC employee Ritul Saikia was in their captivity.
“We have set some terms and condition before the ONGC and negotiation was going on, as soon as it materialise, we will release their employee,” said the Ulfa-I chief who also appreciated Assam chief minister’s call to Ulfa-I for peace-talks saying that it was a positive move of the government.
Meanwhile, Assam police in a major breakthrough on Tuesday apprehended the Ulfa-I cadres involved in the Tingri grenade blast in which two civilians were killed.
Special Director General of Police G P Singh lauded the role of Tinsukia police for the breakthrough and said, “Both the accused involved in the Tingrai grenade blast have been apprehended. The motorcycle used by militants has also been recovered. The blast was carried out at the directions of senior Ulfa-I leaders based outside Assam.”
The Ulfa-I rebels involved and arrested in connection with the grenade blast are Hiren Gogoi alias Robin son of Bipul Gogoi of Lakhipathar and Ranjit Changmai of Lakhipathar under Digboi police station.