Assam: ULFA(I) Linkman Injured in Operation by Police, Army Team

GUWAHATI: An alleged linkman of the proscribed outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) was shot and injured in a police operation near Sonari town of Assam on Saturday.

The former rebel and linkman, who has been identified as Jogen Gogoi, was nabbed from Abhayapuri in Sonari during a joint operation conducted by a team from the police and army. He was shot while trying to flee.

Gogoi is known to have surrendered from the banned ULFA-I earlier, but he allegedly continued to carry on extortion activities in several areas of Upper Assam under the direction of ULFA-I cadre Ganesh Lahon, according to sources.

The former militant is also accused of allegedly providing information and logistical support to the proscribed outfit. The police informed that they have recovered a pistol, a magazine, along with several rounds of live ammunition from his possession.

Even as reports emerged that ULFA (I) has launched an intensive extortion drive in the upper Assam districts to boost its coffers, the Tinsukia Police nabbed a linkman of the banned outfit from the Kakopathar area of the district a few days back.

The linkman, who was subsequently identified as Sanjay Baruah, was arrested during an attempt to collect extortion money from a local businessman. According to the police, the businessman named Tarun Hazarika received an extortion note on June 25, in which he was directed to pay Rs 15 lakh as contribution for the fund of ULFA (I)’s.

The extortion letter was signed by one Pilot Asom, known to be a self-styled major of the outfit. The rebel leader later made video calls to the businessman, directing him to put the demanded amount of cash in a bag and to place it in a particular spot from where their men will then collect it.

However, the businessman contacted the police about the extortion attempt and a trap was set to nab the collector.

The police waited in hiding at the spot where a bag was placed. Soon, a man arrived there and even as he picked up the bag, he was surrounded by the police and taken into custody.

The person who came to collect the money was later identified as Sanjay Baruah, a former ULFA (I) man. Baruah had initially joined the outfit in 2015 but later surrendered in 2019. On questioning, he revealed that he was directed by one Projit Asom to collect the extortion money on his behalf.

Further investigation is ongoing.

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