ISI move to unite ultras in the North-East

guwahati: alarm bells have been set ringing following reports of an inter services intelligence-sponsored initiative to unite several islamic rebel organisations in assam and across the north-east, with major insurgent groups of the region receiving instructions to impart training to these rebels. highly-placed official sources based here revealed that as many as 14-odd islamic extremist groups operating in assam are being approached to unite under the banner of the all muslim united liberation forum of assam (amulfa).a riverine island - manbari char - in lower assam''s barpeta district was used by the islamic rebels-isi combine to give shape to this united body of islamic rebel groups. "two groups, the muslim united liberation tigers of assam (multa) and the muslim united liberation front of assam (mulfa), have already come under the amulfa banner. in fact, they are training together at a camp in syleth district of bangladesh, under the overall supervision of one rustom ali, an ex-major of the pakistan army", the sources informed. this body, in turn, would be a part of a larger unit - the united liberation front of seven sisters - which the isi recently floated to step up islamic terrorism throughout the north-east. reports indicate that efforts are on to rope in several manipur-based islamic outfits like the peoples united liberation front and the islamic liberation army under the ulfss. "the whole idea is to step up disruptive activities. since isi has not been able to persuade organisations like the ulfa to entirely toe their line and target, for example, masses on a day-to-day basis, the pakistani intelligence agency wants to form an islamic terrorist body that would create large-scale havoc and panic and at the same time, be more loyal to it", a senior police official said here on condition of anonymity. already a meeting, the official sources said, was organised in this connection at the pakistan high commission in dhaka. "attended by three top leaders of the ulfa and the isi in charge for north-eastern affairs, the meeting - held in january this year - was to finalise the arms training for the islamic rebels. the ulfa gave in to the isi demand", the sources elaborated. "the isi wants to extend to the north-east the complete religious intolerance prevailing in bangladesh at this moment in a well-planned manner through such means", the police official analysed. eager to start off with the grand alliance, the isi is reported to have even approached little-known groups like the liberation islamic tiger force (litf), formed as recently as november 2001 and operating in certain areas of kamrup and barpeta districts, to come under the amulfa banner.