Ulfa speaks out against infiltration from Bangladesh

The United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), which has been regarding Bangladesh as a safe haven with its top leaders sheltered there, today said infiltration from that country is posing a treat to Assam's demography — the first time the banned group spoke on the influx issue.

"We (Ulfa) are against large-scale infiltration from that country (Bangladesh) which has threatened to change the demographic pattern of Assam and make the indigenous people a minority," arrested Ulfa vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi said here.

"The problem is big and has resulted in identity crisis for the indigenous people," Gogoi told reporters here.

He was arrested in 1998 in Kolkata and was taken to Gauhati Medical College today for a health check.

His statement against infiltration is the first from the banned group, which had so far regarded Bangladesh as a safe haven with its top leaders sheltered there.

The scenario in that country is perceived to have changed under the Sheikh Hasina government as two top Ulfa leaders — self-styled foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury and finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika — who had been in hiding in Bangladesh for years, were arrested and handed over to Indian authorities earlier this month.