ULFA Gives Three Month Ultimatum to Arabinda Rajkhowa

Paresh Baruah alias Paresh Asom, leader of the anti-talk faction United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), gave a three month ultimatum to its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to return to his post and meet the goals of the organization.

In a statement issued by the group’s publicity wing secretary, Arunudoy Asom, sent to the media on Sunday, the organization would be forced to change its leadership if the deadline could not be complied with.

“ULFA is requesting our chairman return to the organisation within three months. If it could not be fulfilled, the organisation would be forced to change the leadership as stated in the organisation constitution,” ULFA said.

ULFA said during the underground days, the chairman was adamant on the sovereignty issue. But after being freed from prison, he could not raise his voice over the issue.

The Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-talk faction group of ULFA is currently in talks with the union government, and a third round of talks will be held in New Delhi, in May.

Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.