ULFA (I) to initiate new recruitment drive

The United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) has initiated a move to recruit youths of upper Assam districts. The outfit, which is aided by some businessman, has launched an extortion drive too. Reportedly, the ULFA (I) has been planning to recruit youths from the following districts – Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, and Sivasagar.  As per sources, the responsibility of recruiting youths had been entrusted to Raju Asom, who is a hardcore militant. He, by far, has managed to rope in around 25 to 30 youths. However, Raju, along with four new recruits were arrested when they were on their way to their bases in Myanmar. While investigation, it came to light that Raju was in constant touch with the commander-in-chief of ULFA(I), Paresh Baruah. However, the investigation did not bring to light anything about any other militant who was being engaged by senior leaders to recruit fresh youths. At the same time, the outfit has been planning to step up extortion drive after facing financial crunch for a long time. Two contractors of the city, who were allegedly involved in leaking out information to senior leaders of the outfit, were also arrested in Guwahati. Sources admitted that a number of owners and managers of the tea gardens in upper Assam also received such calls with demands for money from the ULFA(I).