ULFA leader Mama cremated
Source: The Sangai Express
Jorhat, December 22 2011:
ULFA political ideologue Bhimkanta Burhagohain, popularly known as Mama, was cremated at a private plot at Charaideu Siu Ka Pha Habi gaon in Sivasagar district
on Wednesday.
Hundreds of Ulfa cadres belonging to the pro-talks faction, along with chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, deputy commander in chief Raju Boruah and foreign secretary Sasadhar Choudhary and locals thronged the venue to offer their last respects.
Charaideu sub-divisional officer (civil) LN Gogoi said representatives of the district administration in Sivasagar, Archeological Survey of India and the state police also attended the cremation.
The senior Ulfa cadre was brought to Sivasagar on Tuesday nigh after he died of a heart attack on Monday evening at his residence in Dhola in Tinsukia district.
His body was kept at Rangghar bakori, the birthplace of Ulfa, for sometime where many of his supporters paid their last respects.
His body was brought to Charaideu late on Tuesday night to cremate him near the historical maidams (burial vault) of the Ahom rulers.
But due to protest from several organizations of the Ahom community, the funeral venue of the founder Ulfa member was changed to Siu Ka Pha Habi gaon, about two km from the maidams.
Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, who shouted "mama amor houk" at the cremation ground, said, "Mama was a brave and efficient soldier of the outfit and he always played the role of a guardian of us.
We lost not only a brave soldier but also an efficient guardian" .
Buragohain was a founder member of Ulfa and was the political adviser of the outfit since his demise.
He was arrested by the Bhutanese royal army during operation All Clear in 2003 and was handed over to Indian authorities in 2004.He was kept at several jails in the state for seven years and later released on Dec 5, 2010.Ulfa said after his release from jail, Bhimakanta was working for success of the ongoing peace talks with the government.