Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today (Dec 30, 2003) described United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) "commander-in-chief" Paresh Baruah as a "stumbling block" for talks and charged the militants holed up in Bhutan of running away leaving behind their wives and children at the mercy of the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA).

"Paresh Baruah has been always a stumbling block by announcing certain condition for negotiations which can never be accepted under the constitution," Gogoi told a press conference in Guwahati.

The Chief Minister also criticised the ULFA militants of running away from the camps and leaving behind their wives and children at the mercy of the RBA.

"But I am very happy that the RBA has treated them (wives and children) very well and handed them over to us," Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister also informed that till date the RBA had handed over 171 ULFA militants including 37 women cadres to the Army which included nine top leaders including Bhimkanta Buragohain, alias "Mama", Satabda Konwar, Sumanjit Chaliha, and women ultras Amrit Rabha and Asomi Devi.

He urged the ULFA to follow the example set up National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) and the Bodoland Liberation Tigers and come out for negotiation without setting any pre-condition.