Guwahati: A day after the dramatic surrender of ULFA-Independent’s self-styled “general” Arunoday Dahotia near the Indo-Myanmar border, authorities detained three youths in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday for allegedly attempting to join the banned militant outfit. The trio — identified as Nabottam Bowlari, Jayanta Konwar and Manjit Neog, all residents of Maithong village in Kakopathar — were intercepted at Kharsang in Changlang district while reportedly trying to cross the border.
According to officials, the three had been in contact with Dahotia prior to his surrender on November 24. One of the detainees, Nabottam, reportedly told police, “I got in touch with Arunoday Dahotia and was en route to join the outfit when the police arrested me.” Investigators said all three youths had been working outside Assam before attempting to join ULFA-I.
Dahotia — also known as Bijit Gogoi — surrendered before the Assam Rifles near Pangsau Pass along the Indo-Myanmar border, accompanied by his “personal security officer” Francis Asom. A senior commander of ULFA-I’s 709 Battalion, he was considered a trusted aide of outfit chief Paresh Baruah. The 46-year-old from Chabua joined the organisation in 2002 and earlier headed its publicity wing before rising to the ranks of general secretary and finance secretary. Officials added that he was the last Pakistan-trained cadre still active, having earlier spent six years in China and time in Bangladesh.
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Security agencies view Dahotia’s surrender as a major tactical blow to ULFA-I given his leadership stature and operational experience. He had long been under the scanner of the Assam Police and central security agencies as a high-value target.
Reacting to Sunday’s development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the surrender does not change the larger contours of potential peace talks with ULFA-I. He reiterated that the government will hold political negotiations only if Paresh Baruah participates directly, adding that talks can move ahead solely with the outfit’s supreme leader at the table.
Meanwhile, security forces are investigating whether the arrest of the three youths reflects renewed recruitment attempts by ULFA-I in Upper Assam following Dahotia’s surrender.
