M A I N   N E W S

ULFA top gun in China: Top leader

New Delhi, January 9
Paresh Baruah, the military chief of the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), seems to be enjoying hospitality in China as his presence in the neighbouring country has been confirmed by the arrested head of a Manipuri militant group.

United National Liberation Front (UNLF) chief R K Sanayaima, alias Meghen, arrested last month in Bihar by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), confessed during interrogation that he had met the elusive 'commander-in-chief' of ULFA during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Highly-placed sources said the Manipuri militant leader also told NIA investigators that both of them had intensive talks in Shanghai about the activities of the two outfits, future plans, arms procurement, and the casualties suffered during the offensive launched by security forces. The Shanghai World Expo was held between May 1 to October 31, 2010. Sources said 54-year-old Baruah has been mostly based in Yunnan province of China bordering Myanmar but he frequents northern Myanmar's Kachin areas.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had informed the Rajya Sabha last month that India had taken up with China the issue of Baruah's presence in that country. — PTI