ULFA (I) rubbishes reports of Paresh Baruah’s death

Eastern Mirror Desk

Dimapur, Nov. 7: The United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) on Wednesday refuted media reports that its commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah has died.

A news portal had earlier claimed that Baruah, head of the rebel group’s anti-talk faction, succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident last week in Ruili, located on the Myanmar-China border.

However, the outfit clarified in a statement that reports suggesting the demise of its leader Paresh Baruah in a “so-called accident” are fake; that he was safe and sound and had not met with an accident.  It appealed to the public not to believe such reports regarding the leader in future.

ULFA’s pro-talk faction’s General Secretary, Anup Chetia also dismissed the reports of Baruah’s death.

“I do not think that there is truth in the news. Paresh Baruah met with an accident about three months back in Ruili while he was on a motorcycle. However, he called me up at least three times after that and told me that he was recovering,” Chetia told IANS on phone.

“He told me that there some of his bones and a toe was fratctured. I received a call from him last Sunday which I could not receive as I was in a meeting. So, considering all these facts I do not think that the news of his death is true.”

Chetia said that it was basically a one way communication between him and Paresh Baruah always.

“We cannot contact him, it is always he who contacts me. I think nothing untoward has happened with him,” Chetia said.

Assam Police and intelligence officials were yet to confirm the news of death of the ULFA leader.

(With inputs from IANS)