GUWAHATI, May 9 ?After suffering setback in recent months, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leadership has initiated steps for regrouping of the outfit and the local units have been specific targets for recruitment and fund collection, highly placed police sources said here. Sources revealed that according to information available, all the local units of the outfit have been given specific targets for recruitment and according to the target, around 200 boys will be recruited from Sivasagar district, while, around 150 will be recruited from Nagaon. Sources revealed that the ULFA has also changed the guidelines for recruitment and the outfit is in search of more and more educated youths.
Police disclosed that according to information available, the Saraighat Anchalik unit of the ULFA has been given the target of collecting Rs 2.50 crore, while the Manas Anchalik would have to collect Rs one crore. However, the ULFA has also changed the tactic of collection of funds and instead of demanding huge amounts, the outfit is ready to accept smaller amounts from the businessmen. It may be mentioned here that the ULFA suffered setbacks in recent months, while, the outfit is lying low when it comes to attacking the security forces. Nine ULFA militants were killed and 13 were arrested in the month of April, while eleven other militants surrendered.
In March, 15 militants were killed and 18 arrested, while, 14 were killed and 36 arrested in February. Altogether 15 militants were killed and 29 nabbed in anti-insurgency operations in January this year. During the same period, the acts of violence by the ULFA has come down as in the first four months of the year, only two security force personnel and 13 civilians were killed in ULFA attacks. The figures proved that the security forces were having the upper hand against the militants, police sources pointed out. However, it is yet to be ascertained whether the striking power of the out fit has reduced or they are lying low for tactical reasons.
Meanwhile, intelligence agencies recently come across a report that the Deputy Commander-in-chief of the ULFA Raju Baruah directed the cadres to attack a few Congressman in the districts of Nalbari and Barpeta immediately after the completion of one year in office of the present Government, but the authenticity of the report is yet to be ascertained, sources added.