GUWAHATI: Foiling an extortion drive being allegedly run by Drishti Rajkhowa, head of the 'western command' of Ulfa (Independent), police held two Ulfa-I rebels on Wednesday. Deepan Das, a surrendered cadre of the outfit, and Srimanta Rabha were arrested in the city and
Goalpara respectively.
Assistant commissioner of police, Ponjit Dowarah, said, "On Tuesday, we received an input that Das was in Guwahati to collect a sum of money as demanded by the militant group from a businessman from
Dhubri. Immediately, an operation was launched under the supervision of the additional deputy commissioner of police (west) Bibekananda Das and the cadres were arrested."
A sum of Rs 1 lakh and two mobile phones were seizied from his possession, Dowarah added. Based on the information provided by Das, Rabha was later arrested from Goalpara with the help of Goalpara Police.
"Ulfa-I had demanded Rs 10 lakh from the trader and Das was there to collect the first instalment when he was held near Dispur," sources said. Das had surrendered in 2009 and has been involved in several petty criminal activities like theft, extortion and kidnapping. He was believed to be a close associate of the elusive Ulfa (I) leader Rajkhowa, they added.
"Investigation is in progress to find out about more persons who might be involved in the extortion racket. Rajkhowa, who is married to a Garo woman, has been instrumental in running these rackets from undisclosed areas in
Meghalaya and Bangladesh," a police official said.
Previous operations carried out by the police have revealed that Ulfa (I), which receives support from the ultras in the Garo hills of Meghalaya, has been active in several areas of Goalpara, Dudhnoi, Damra, Rangjuli, Dhupdhara in Goalpara district and at Boko, Hahim and Chaygaon in
Kamrup district.
Representative image
