Ultras plan to target prominent ministers

GUWAHATI, April 27: The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has hatched a plan to target several prominent Ministers during the poll process, highly placed police sources said. Sources revealed that the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and his wife Jayashree Goswami Mahanta, MP have been identified as the prime targets by the militant outfit as the ULFA leadership is of the view that they suffered serious setbacks because of the tough stand taken against them by the Chief Minister. The other Ministers likely to be targeted by the ULFA include the Agriculture Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Revenue Minister Zoii Nath Sarma, Municipal Administration Minister Biraj Sarma, Minister of State for Tourism Jagadish Bhuyan and Minister of State for Veterinary Hiranya Konwar. The State police has already beefed up the security of the Ministers likely to be targeted by the militant outfit, sources added. It may be mentioned here that Biraj Kumar Sarma, Hiranya Konwar and Zoii Nath Sarma had survived ULFA attacks during the last two general elections. Meanwhile, the three main underground groups - ULFA, NDFB and UDPS have joined hands to disrupt the coming election. The miliant groups, operating from different hideouts are regrouping to create violence in certain areas in which they have strong base. Highly-placed official sources disclosed that the leadership of the outfits have already instructed the lower cadres to "show their full strength" during the election. Sources further revealed that a 40-member group of the banned ULFA had already sneaked into the State from Bhutan to disrupt the polls. "The militants are now scattered in various places of lower Assam to create violence," sources added. In this context they revealed that the three extremist groups have reached an agreement and they are likely to strike in Karbi Anglong, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kokrajhar and Darrang districts. "The modus operandi of the outfits is just to create panic among the voters so that they refrain from casting their votes, sources said, adding that according to reports, the 28th battalion of the ULFA situated in bordering areas of Arunachal Pradesh is likely to foment trouble in some parts of Upper Assam areas. Giving the rationale behind the spurt in activities of militant groups, sources informed that they have still a good number of sympathisers throughout the State and taking advantage of the situation, militants have started killings. "We have identified the areas and security has been beefed up accordingly," sources added. Throwing more light on the activities of the UPDS, they said that the militant group is working with active support from the NSCN(IM). The NSCN(IM) has been providing weapons and training to the cadres of UPDS sources said, adding that ULFA is maintaining a cordial relation with the UPDS for shelter and operation. According to reports, the leadership of both the groups held a meeting in last month some where Nagaland border and agreed to launch a combine operation during Assembly election.