Monday, December 20 2004 17:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: The Assam police today (Dec 20, 2004) claimed that the banned ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) had established links with Maoist militants of Nepal and had hired 50 Harkat-ul-Mujahideen ultras to carry out subversive activities.

Guwahati city superintendent of police, Hiren Nath, claimed that 50 militants of the Harkat-ul group were "hired" by the ULFA last week to carry out attacks.

The growing links between ULFA and Maoist militants had also caused concern among security agencies.

There were reports that the ULFA had set up camps in Nepal through the Maoist ultras but the security forces were yet to get any conclusive evidence in this regard.

Police said top ULFA leaders had meetings with the Maoist leaders with whom they first came into contact in Bhutan as there is a sizeable population of Nepali community in that country.

Senior ULFA leaders visited Nepal quite often and it was believed that the outfit was currently using that country as a shelter point after Bhutan's operation against them.