It is a matter of grave concern that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has raised its ugly head again. The ULFA faction headed by Paresh Barua, who has been hiding in a country inimical to India, has carried out at least two major abductions in the past few months. In both incidents it has targeted unarmed hard-working people in the oil sector who have nothing to do with militancy and anti-national activities, but have been contributing to the economic development of Assam and India. It is a fact that while most members of the ULFA have left the gang and returned home, a handful of them are still around. Their sole intention or business is to earn money through abduction and extortion. There was a time when one section of ill-informed people of Assam had supported the ULFA. A section of journalists and editors of Assam had also once supported their so-called "cause" and glorified their illegal and criminal activities. A section of self-styled intellectuals had also supported them in the past; a few of them – who have become obsolete and irrelevant – still continue to admire and support these criminals. It is unfortunate that a section of common people get easily influenced by the utterances of these self-styled intellectuals. Most political leaders and parties of Assam – whether 'national' or 'regional' – don't have the courage to condemn the anti-national and criminal acts of Paresh Barua and his gang. It is time every right-thinking citizen, including leaders of all political parties, student bodies including AASU and AJYCP, socio-literary groups like Axam Xahitya Sabha (now headed by an ex-DGP), teachers' bodies like ACTA, etc came out openly against this and other criminal gang which are out to once again destroy Assam, as they had done during the 1990s. The government on its part must take a firm decision and wipe out such gangs without mercy. Wasn't this the same gang which had killed 12 children in Dhemaji a few years ago?