ULFA wages virtual war against India: Home Ministry

New Delhi, April 7 (PTI) In the wake of serial blasts in
India's eastern state of Assam, the government Tuesday said
the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has waged a virtual
war against the country and it has strong reasons to believe
that the banned outfit was behind the recent violence in the
state.

"It (ULFA) has waged a virtual war against the Indian
State for many years. Government has made it clear that it
will not yield to ULFA's demands," a Home Ministry statement
said, a day after three blasts and a grenade attack rocked the
northeastern state killing nine persons and injuring 70.

The Government has strong reasons to believe that the
perpetrators of these crimes belong to ULFA and it was
regrettable that it was not possible for the security forces
to pre-empt and prevent these incidents, it said.

While condemning the acts of violence, the statement
said "ULFA is an old adversary. It is a banned organisation.
Its leaders are operating from sanctuaries across the
international border".

While admitting that the period between March 16 (so
called Army Day) and April 7 (so called Raising Day of ULFA)
has always been a vulnerable period in Assam for many years,
the Home Ministry said it had information on the attempts that
would be made by ULFA during this period.

"Information was available about names of ULFA
commanders/cadres who will attempt to explode IEDs," the
statement said.

The Indian Home Ministry said many advisories were sent
to the security forces as well as to the Assam government to
remain extremely vigilant during this period.

"The security forces, and especially the Assam police,
were on high alert and tried their best to secure the most
vulnerable locations. It is unfortunate and deeply regretted
that the adversary has been able to strike this time," the
statement said.

Giving an account, the Ministry said since January 1,
the security forces have been able to arrest 42 ULFA cadres
and neutralised 15 ULFA cadres, which include notorious ULFA
cadres such as Tapan Roy, Paranjal Deka, Anupam Gogoi, Bhaskar
Hazarika and Kushal Das.

"The security forces, and especially the Assam police,
have been bravely confronting ULFA cadres. In the process, the
security forces have lost four lives," it said.

Government wants the people of India to know that the
security forces are confronting ULFA practically every day.

"Sometimes the security forces are not able to pre-empt
or prevent violent incidents. Nevertheless, we must not lose
heart. We must remain determined and we must fully back our
security forces. Government has no doubt that they will be
able to apprehend the perpetrators of the latest crimes," it
said.