GUWAHATI: In an unprecedented incident, a journalist of a local daily in Assam has reportedly joined the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I).
Identified as Bidyut Mahanta from Naharkatia in Dibrugarh, the journalist made his affiliation public through a lengthy Assamese post on Facebook, expressing his intent to join the banned group.
The news of Mahanta’s association with ULFA-I has triggered widespread uproar and concern in the region. The incident follows similar cases in recent months, raising alarms about the trend of local youth joining militant outfits.
Earlier on November 4, Manash Borgohain from Golaghat district publicly declared his allegiance to ULFA-I through a video on social media.
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Borgohain, a B.Tech graduate in Mechanical Engineering, expressed frustration over perceived discrimination and claimed that he had willingly joined the outfit.
The developments have prompted Assam’s Director General of Police (DGP), GP Singh, to address the youth directly.
In response to the unfortunate death of one Abhinash Kalita, allegedly executed by ULFA-I for attempting to escape their camp in Myanmar, Singh had urged young individuals to refrain from associating with what he described as an “autocratic” organisation like ULFA-I.
The DGP, in a social media post in October, had highlighted the value of life and cautioned against jeopardising one’s future by aligning with groups that pose significant risks to personal well-being.
“Once again, same story. They won’t change. Young friends from Assam, don’t waste your life for an autocratic organisation. Your life has no value there. Please, please, please,” he had posted on a micro-blogging website.
