Ulfa leader Paresh has 2 aides from Bangladesh

Two Bangladeshis are working as security guards for absconding Paresh Barua, commander-in-chief of the military wing of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), according to a report of an intelligence agency.

Alamgir Hossain and Golam Nobi also cook for Paresh so that the Ulfa leader has less risk of getting poisoned, the report adds.

The report was submitted to the principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office and the senior secretary of the home ministry last month.

The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the report.

Paresh, leader of the Ulfa's anti-talks faction, stands accused in a number of cases, including murder, illegal arms and abduction. The Interpol issued arrest warrants against him in 1997.

He was sentenced to death in the 10-truck arms haul case on January 30, 2014. Later, the Paresh-led faction of Ulfa requested the Bangladesh government to review the verdict.

There is no definite information about the present location of Paresh. Some Indian newspapers quoting intelligence agencies reported that he could possibly be staying in Tengchong near the China-Myanmar border, the report says.

According to the report, both Alamgir and Nobi are from Noakhali. Alamgir's father is a principal (in-charge) of a Dakhil Madrasa in Koratkhil of Chatkhil upazila. Alamgir recently visited China, but is now in Dhaka.

Golam Nobi, also from the same area, passed Alim (HSC-equivalent) exam from a local madrasa and got enrolled in Titumir College in Dhaka. He too visited China.

The report expresses concern over the duo's link with Paresh and recommends detaining Alamgir and interrogating him for detailed information about the Ulfa leader.

Contacted, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal last week said he had not seen the report yet. “Of course, we will take tough action against anyone helping separatists of neighbouring India.”

The minister also alleged that the previous BNP-Jamaat coalition government had helped and patronised the separatists of India. “The incumbent government will not tolerate anyone working against a friendly country like India,” he added.

The report also mentions that some BNP and Jamaat leaders are looking after Paresh's properties in Bangladesh. It recommends identifying them for taking action.

It says Paresh has links with the extremist groups in Khagrachhari.

Besides, the report suggests that the law enforcement agencies, including the Border Guard Bangladesh, remain alert so that Paresh could not enter frontier districts in Chittagong region and carry out any activities.

It reads that India regularly alleged Ulfa to be working as a bridge between the separatist groups of north-eastern Indian provinces and extremist groups of Bangladesh.

The Ulfa rebels have been fighting for a separate Assamese homeland since 1979.

In order to establish separate independent states from north-eastern Indian providences, Paresh on April 17, 2015, announced forming of a new alliance named United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW). Four other groups -- United Liberation Front of Asom, National Democratic Front of Boroland, Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland and People's Liberation Army of Manipur -- joined the new alliance, according to the report.

The new alliance is headquartered in Myanmar.

The pro-talks faction of Ulfa led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa recently agreed to hold peace talks with the Indian government. Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia was with the faction.

Chetia had been detained in Bangladesh in 1997 for illegally entering the country using a forged passport. He had been handed over to India in January this year.