Imphal, August 01 2009: The Inspector General (Intelligence) of Assam Police has made the first step towards bringing the proscribed ULFA to the negotiating table.

The IGP reportedly made overtures for a political dialogue during a brief meeting with ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah in an Assam Rifles camp at Ukhrul on July 29/30 .

According to a defence source, the ULFA chief was coming to attend a meeting at the camp of the PLA located in Myanmar.

But his health broke down in the journey.

Subsequently, Paresh Baruah was brought to the border with India.

The ULFA chief was critically ill, the defence source said.

The IGP and the ULFA commander in chief held a preliminary round of talk to facilitate formal negotiation between the two sides.

It is suspected that the IGP who came in a military helicopter might have taken Paresh Baruah along with him for medical treatment of the rebel leader.

It is also reported that two cadres of a UG group were arrested by security forces from the border with Myanmar on the day when the ULFA chief met the Assam IGP.

On being contacted, both the State Police and Assam Rifles maintained that they did not have any report about the meeting between Paresh Baruah and the IGP.

They further denied having any knowledge about the whereabouts of the ULFA chief at present.

As such, it could not be confirmed officially whether the Assam IGP met Paresh Baruah himself or one of his emissary.

Meanwhile, a team of officials of Survey of India and BRO has moved into Moreh to identify the exact line where border fencing would be done from Border Pillar No 79 to Border Pillar No 81 over a length of 10 kms along the international boundary with Myanmar.

Following environmental clearance given by the Supreme Court and forest clearance given by the State Government, border fencing work is finally making some progress.

However, Myanmar has been raising strong objections against the border fencing work.

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