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Assam prods New Delhi on safe ULFA passage |
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Desperate to cut off strategic Upper Assam from ULFA’s scheme of things, Dispur has now asked New Delhi to allow “safe passage” to the cadres of the remaining unit of the outfit’s 28 battalion to come overground.
Dispur’s appeal to the Centre comes in the wake of New Delhi rejecting the B company’s demand for disbanding the Unified Command as a precondition for it to join the pro-peace group.
The two other companies - Alpha and Charlie - of the batta¬lion, which operate in Upper Assam, declared a ceasefire on June 24. Their leaders are now working to get the outfit’s central leadership and the government to hold talks to bring about an amicable end to the nearly three decade-long insurgency in the state.
The third, the Bravo company, has yet to join hands with the other two. The government would be able to heave a huge sigh of relief once the B company is neutralised as the three companies of the 28 battalion together had been a thorn in its flesh for a long time, laying a virtual siege to Upper Assam.
A highly placed source in the state’s Home Department said on Sept. 25 that though the Centre’s rejection of the demand for dismantling the Unified Command was half expected, Dispur was not willing to let it go at that. “Delhi’s perception that things are fine in the state for the moment is not off target, but the state government is in a hurry to see the B company join the pack of peace-seekers too,” he said. “We are willing to take a few risks as well for that,” he said, explaining the need for a safe pas¬sage to convince the leaders and cadres of the B company that Dispur was really sincere. He said the risk of the unit regroup¬ing if allowed free movement could be tackled.
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