Maoists teaming up with northeast militant outfits in Assam

Guwahati, June 18 (ANI): The growing Maoist penetration in Assam and their efforts to set up a network with regional outfits to procure Chinese arms, is causing concern to both the central and Assam state government.

The latest intelligence reports suggest that the ultras have developed links with Paresh Baruah, leader of the anti-talk ULFA faction, currently holed up in the Kachin district of Myanmar.

Baruah is supporting the Maoists in carrying out operations in Assam that are aimed at creating instability in the state.

Maoists also tried to join forces with pro-talk Arabinda Rajkhowa led ULFA committee, but he turned them down.

" Maoists are trying to spread their influence in Assam and I think the ULFA is clearly supporting Maoists. The linkage between Baruah and Maoists is more in terms of ideological linkage.ULFA is supporting Maoist to get more support from them as the group is quite weak at this point," said Namrata Goswami, an expert on the issue.

Another major ally of the Maoists in the northeast is the Manipur- based People's Liberation Army (PLA). Both have been running joint operations since 2006.

Several PLA cadres have been arrested in the past and their links with Maoists exposed.

The PLA is trying to set up a base in Guwahati, while the Maoists are trying to establish themselves in Upper Assam.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi recently said that Maoists do not believe in democracy.

"There is no difference between the Maoists, ULFA, NSCN, and PLA. As I said the Maoists don't believe in democracy but what they want is Arms and they believe in that," he had said.

The Assam Police has stepped up their vigil, and are cracking down on Maoist bases and arresting those who collaborate with them. (ANI)