ULFA expels three pro-talks leaders; KYKL and UNLF vow to target villagers of Heirok in Thoubal district for decision to accept arms
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  • The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) expelled three pro-talks leaders of its 28th battalion for their alleged anti-organisational activities. In a statement, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa stated that Mrinal Hazarika, Moon Borah alias Jiten Dutta and Joon Sonowal alias Joon Bhuyan have been expelled from the primary membership of the organisation from July 7. The statement further stated that all the activities carried on by the pro-talks leaders in the name of ULFA were ‘illegal and unconstitutional.’ The ULFA chairman was however silent on the other members of the outfit who have also joined the pro-talks group1.

    Meanwhile, surrendered ULFA members of Upper Assam on July 6 extended their support for the peace initiative taken by a section of the outfit, and urged both the government and the ULFA leadership to shed all pre-conditions for talks. Nearly 150 former militants of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia gathered at Chabua on July 6 and urged the central and Assam governments as well as the ULFA leadership to “look beyond their respective rigid stands and simply come forward for direct talks2.”

    In Manipur, the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) announced that they would target all the villagers of Heirok in Thoubal district unless the public relented and retreated from the decision to accept arms under the special police officers (SPOs). In a joint statement on July 6, the two outfits warned that the residents of Heirok, including students, would not be allowed go beyond their localities. The two organisations vowed to target any violators with immediate effect3.

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