Guwahati, Feb. 7: A weakened middle order, coupled with the absence of ?hit men? in the Ulfa is posing serious problems in the outfit?s bid to regroup, intelligence sources said.
?As things stand now, the only way the Ulfa can make its presence felt is through hands-on involvement of its top leadership in the movement,? a highly- placed source said.
The Ulfa?s top leadership is known to have undergone rigorous arms training on foreign soil. But they ended up playing the role of backroom boys, based in foreign countries, ever since the outfit was able to raise ?commanders? who could carry out ?operations? on their own.
The Ulfa?s striking powers became ?ineffective? after a majority of its middle ranking cadre, who implement orders of top leaders like Paresh Barua and Arabinda Rajkhowa, were either killed by security forces or surrendered over the years.
Inspector-general of police (law and order), S.B. Kakoti said Ulfa activists now lack confidence in carrying out hand-to-hand battle with security forces and are resorting to mortar attacks, which does not involve much risk.
?The absence of effective middle-ranking cadre is a reason for this. These senseless mortar attacks are not target-specific and only aimed at intimidating people,? he said.
Kakoti felt that rebuilding a strong middle hierarchy in an insurgent outfit usually takes a long time. ?We heard that the Ulfa was regrouping. As average Assamese youth only want white-collar jobs, it is easy for the Ulfa to lure them. But, that effectiveness would still be lacking,? he said. Sources said the outfit was keeping a close watch on the developments in the region and trying to build its lost base by recruiting more youths.
Intelligence agencies compared the Ulfa?s current position with that of the People?s Liberation Army of Manipur in the late Eighties where the group was shattered after almost all its top and middle-ranking leaders were either killed or arrested.
?The Ulfa has lost nearly 300 cadre and sympathisers since 1997 after the Unified Command came into force,? a source said.
According to intelligence officials, it was Irengbam Bhorot, the PLA?s current president, who led attacks on security forces in a bid to regroup. ?Bhorot?s direct involvement in field operations ignited the morale of its cadre and gave the PLA a new lease of life,? an intelligence officer said.
Sources said even if the Ulfa leadership tried to regroup by coming to Assam, it would be difficult for them to operate because the chances of getting arrested are high.
Secondly, public support for them has dwindled and finally, they lack knowledge about the ground situation.