NEW DELHI, June 9 ? Confusion reigned over reports ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah falling to assassin?s bullets in Bangladesh yesterday. There was no confirmation of the reports by the Union Government. The rumour on attempt on the elusive commander in-chief following reports of a similar attack on his life last month in the neighbouring country in which he reportedly escaped unhurt.
But the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has played it safe refusing to comment on the reports. Sources in the Ministry said they had seen the reports but have no confirmation of the incident. It takes about three to four days before the picture becomes clear, sources added. Reports of incidents first surfaced in Assam last night following which a prominent TV channel picked it up reporting that Paresh Baruah was shot dead yesterday in Bangladesh. But the report was later withdrawn apparently in absence of any confirmation.
Officials here are sceptical about the latest report, as such reports on life of Paresh Baruah has been surfacing regularly for the past couple of years.
According to established practice, the MHA does not comment on such incidents, though officials here said that they have intelligence reports suggesting that Paresh Baruah called up few people in Assam late last night. Intelligence agencies here believe that the all-powerful ULFA leader is under tight security-cover of the Bangladesh Intelligence and lives under deep cover. He is suspected to have dumped his Bangladeshi passport and curtailed his foreign visits ever since Interpol issued Red Corner Alert notices for his involvement in the killing of Sanjay Ghosh.
Reported to have close rapport with the ruling Bangladesh cliche, ULFA?s top leadership also suspected to have links with the ISI of Pakistan, which allegedly provides the outfit with logistical support including latest sophisticated weapons. The Government of Bangladesh, however, denies that the top ULFA leadership is operating out of the country though Government of India from time to time has been furnishing details of their whereabouts to the Government there.