Assam: Centre extends ban on ULFA, NDFB

The Government of India has extended the ban on the United Liberation Front of Assam and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland with a fresh notification making it clear that operation against hawkish factions of these two outfits would continue notwithstanding the on-going peace process involving doves of both the outfits.

Though a faction of the ULFA led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has come over for dialogue with the government, the faction led by the 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua continued remain opposed to the peace process.

Similarly, a faction of the NDFB led by Ranjan Dairmari is still not involved in peace process while the Government of India has started peace talks with a faction of the NDFB led by Govinda Basumatary.

Recently, there was a split in the NDFB faction led by Ranjan Daimary with a third faction being floated by one of his trusted lieutenants.

NDFB leader Ranjan Dairmay who is made the prime accused by the CBI in October 30, 2008 serial blasts in Assam, is now lodged in jail in the state after his arrest in Bangladesh over two years back.

Meanwhile, security forces in Assam have intensified operations against hawkish factions of the ULFA and NDFB all over the state to check movements of the ultras as well as extortion operations by the outfits.