| Submit your comments on this article |
| Terror Networks |
| Four ULFA gunnies go the way of the passenger pigeon in Assam |
| 2002-02-24 |
United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was formed in 1979 to establish a "sovereign socialist Assam" through the usual "armed struggle." It has the usual links with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Afghan mujahideen. Defense Forces Intelligence (DFI) of Bangladesh also trained some ULFA cadres. It started out with abductions, large-scale extortion drives and looted banks and treasuries to finance the purchase of weapons and equipment. The outfit also fought social evils such as liquor, rape, corruption and rhino poaching. By the early 90s ULFA militants had infiltrated the State police and bureaucracy in Assam, and were running a parallel government in many parts of the State. Determined operations by the armed forces broke the organization and after the remnants regrouped they started putting money into legit businesses, including media consultancies and soft drink manufacturing. It owns three hotels, a private clinic and two driving schools in Dhaka. ULFA also runs a profitable narcotics business in Myanmar and Thailand. The money generated enabled the Mister Bigs to live large, while the remaining cannon fodder is picked off in ones, twos and fours. Survivors are presumably moved up the organizational ladder. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |