Guwahati, Sep 24 (IANS): Security forces in Assam have apprehended a youth from Charaideo district who was allegedly on his way to Nagaland’s Mon district to join the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), officials said on Thursday.
The apprehended youth has been identified as Shyamal Danah, a resident of Thulai Chuk, Mahmora, Alikiner in Charaideo district.
He was intercepted following specific intelligence inputs regarding his alleged movement towards Mon, where ULFA-I is believed to maintain links and routes towards its camps.
According to officials, Danah was allegedly associated with ULFA-I as an overground worker and was travelling with the intention of joining the insurgent outfit. A joint team of Charaideo Police, led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (South), along with personnel of 20 Assam Rifles, carried out the operation.
Danah was subsequently brought back to Charaideo and is being taken to Sonari Police Station for further questioning and investigation.
Police are expected to ascertain his alleged links with the outfit and identify others who may have facilitated his movement.
The development comes amid intensified operations by security forces against ULFA-I’s recruitment, extortion and support networks in Upper Assam.
In recent months, security agencies have reported several arrests linked to the banned outfit. In June, Assam Police and central agencies arrested two suspected ULFA-I cadres in Tinsukia and recovered assault rifles, ammunition, grenades and other military equipment.
Earlier this month, security forces also arrested suspected ULFA-I linkmen in Dibrugarh in an alleged extortion case, with investigators probing the outfit’s network of overground workers and alleged financial channels.
On September 14, a suspected ULFA-I overground worker was also apprehended in Charaideo in a joint operation over alleged extortion activities. The Ministry of Home Affairs continues to list ULFA as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Further investigation into Danah’s alleged links and intended movement is underway.
