Guwahati, 3rd January: In the midst of the controversy surrounding the alleged spying at the camp of the banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I), the police have arrested the alleged ‘spy recruiter’ identified as Manash Chaliha. Chaliha was apprehended from a hotel in West Bengal over a case of fraud lodged at the Dispur Police Station in Guwahati.
Reports suggest that Chaliha, who was hiding in a hotel in West Bengal since the ULFA-I spying controversy broke out, has been taken into custody and is expected to reach Guwahati soon. He was arrested on the basis of a case of fraud filed in 2023, where he allegedly duped a businessman of Rs 8 lakhs.
Chaliha’s name gained prominence after an alleged spy, Manash Borgohain, released a video claiming that he was recruited as a spy by Chaliha. In the video, Borgohain accused Chaliha of being the zonal head of the police’s Special Branch and engaging in recruiting individuals for spying on the ULFA-I camp. Chaliha had denied the allegations, stating that he was an organic farmer and not associated with Borgohain.
The Assam Police has maintained that Borgohain is not a police spy, and Chaliha is not associated with the administration. The ULFA-I had questioned the Assam Police for not taking action against Chaliha in light of the controversy. The banned outfit had released a letter on February 1, expressing concerns about Chaliha’s allegations and insulting remarks against ULFA (I) chief, and hinted at considering it seriously.
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