ULFA leader Paresh Baruah claims his son has been abducted

ULFA's elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah today said that his son has been 'abducted' to put 'pressure' on him to surrender.

"By abducting my son, some agencies are trying to put mental pressure on me to surrender and divert me from the organisation's ideology and objective," Barua said in an e-mail to media houses today.

The ULFA leader, however, did not mention as to when and from where his son was allegedly abducted or if his son was still in captivity.

"The attempts to force us to surrender or forsake the ideals and principles of the group by holding our child as hostage will not bear any fruit. There cannot be compromise on the question of sovereignty," he asserted.

Baruah said he was ready to sacrifice his son for the cause of "freedom of Assam".

Security agencies, however, said they have no information in this regard, and that Barua's family was still in Bangladesh.

Baruah also said he has been cooperating in the talks initiative led by jailed ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and leaders of the group.

"We will be prepared to continue the armed struggle, till a complete resolution of the conflict is achieved," he said.

A few days back, the outfit had claimed that their two top leaders - Antu Chawdang and Pradeep Chetia - were picked up on December 13 and since then the duo's whereabouts are not known.