NEW DELHI, April 27 —The Assam Government has advocated continuation of ban on ULFA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) citing several incidents of attacks on para-military forces and Army, kidnapping and use of sophisticated weapons by these militant groups, reports PTI. Leading evidence before Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal headed by Justice Manmohan Sarin, standing counsel for State Government Krishna Sharma stated that these groups have acquired sophisticated weapons like AK-56 assault rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers and were indulging in activities inimical to peace in various parts of the State.
During a recent hearing at Delhi High Court, a Director (North-East) of the Home Ministry deposed before Justice Sarin and supported the stand of the Assam Government. Last month, the Tribunal had recorded evidence at Shillong on the case relating to NDFB. The militant organisation, despite issuance of notice, did not appear before Justice Sarin Tribunal, which proceeded with the matter ex-parte. Joint Secretary, Home and Political Department of Assam Government and nine Superintendents of Police of the concerned districts, where NDFB was active, deposed before the Tribunal.
According to the Government, NDFB was indulging in ethnic cleansing in Bodo areas by resorting to abduction and killing of Biharis, Adivasis and non-Bodos settled in the area. NDFB was first declared an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 1992 and the ban order on the organisation comes up for review every two years. The Justice Sarin Tribunal also held its sitting two weeks back at Tezpur to review the ban other on ULFA passed by the Central government.
ULFA, like NDFB, did not respond to the notice issued to it by the Tribunal, which proceeded ex-parte to record the evidence led by Assam government supporting continuance of the ban order on the militant group. Sharma, from Corporate law group, appearing as Standing council of the State government, stated that the militant group has established bases in neighbouring countries of Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. She said the activists of the militant group were being trained in sophisticated weapons acquired from the South-East Asian countries. The weaponry was being used by ULFA for secessionist purposes, the added.
In addition to the contentions, the Joint Secretary, Home and Political Department of State government, and 14 Superintendents of Police of the affected districts deposed before the Tribunal. The justice Sarin Tribunal has fixed hearing of final arguments on the NDFB issue for May 1 while the same for ULFA would take place on May 2 at the Delhi High Court.