Source: Hueiyen News Service
Guwahati, December 14 2009:
In what can be termed as a tactical move to garner public sympathy, Ulfa 'commander in chief' Paresh Baruah on Sunday apologized for the Dhemaji blast which was carried out by the banned outfit during Independence Day celebrations in 2004 and killed 15 children.
''The blast is the darkest chapter in Ulfa's history.
It was a brutal incident.
The (Ulfa) leadership was misled by those involved in the attack directly.
We realized late that we had done a mistake by denying it.
We apologize to the people of Assam,'' said the elusive militant leader.
A massive explosion, triggered by 10 kg of RDX planted at the Dhemaji parade ground, took place when the I-Day celebrations were about to start.
At least 19 people, including 15 children, were killed and more than 30 injured in the blast.
Two days after the incident, Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had blamed the government for using schoolchildren as shields.
This was followed by another statement by Baruah denying the outfit's involvement in the attack.
The Ulfa military chief had then blamed the security forces of carrying out the blast to tarnish his outfit's image.