'Paresh Baruah in Kachin area of Myanmar'

The elusive 'commander-in-chief of ULFA Paresh Baruah is hiding in Myanmar's Kachin area bordering China, and under the full grip of anti-India forces like Pakistan's ISI, a top government official said.

The elusive 'commander-in-chief of ULFA Paresh Baruah is hiding in Myanmar's Kachin area bordering China, and under the full grip of anti-India forces like Pakistan's ISI, a top government official said.

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Baruah, who has been against holding any peace dialogue with the government, has fled from his hideout in Bangladesh some time ago. "He is now in Kachin area of Myanmar," the official said.

Several militant outfits in the Northeast have training camps and bases in Kachin, which borders China's Yunnan province which Baruah visits regularly.

Asked about Baruah's opposition to talks with the government, the official said he was under full grip of forces inimical to India like ISI and some elements in China and works under their directions.

Baruah controls ULFA's finances and has invested huge funds in his business which created rift among other leaders including Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa who has surrendered today. "He has no public support in Assam and people of the state want peace," the official said.

The official said during his long stay in Bangladesh, Baruah and his wife became "half-Muslim", while his children converted into Islam and have been given Muslim names. They offer prayers five times according to Islamic tradition.

"Now he has no relations with Assam," he said and indicated that the government would like to get him back here.