ULFA faction sends Rs 1 cr extortion letter to tea garden

The Anti-talk ULFA (Independent) faction has asked a leading tea garden in Tinsukia district via WhatsApp to "courteously" contribute Rs one crore to the banned militant outfit's organisational fund police said today.
The purported extortion letter, signed by its finance secretary 'brigadier' Jibon Asom dated November 21 addressed to the tea estate said: "You/Your company is courteously requested to contribute INR 10000000.00 (Rs 1 cr only) to our organisational fund. Your cooperation in making this payment promptly will be greatly appreciated".
The senior district police official said the extortion note was sent to a garden employee through WhatsApp.
On November 21, a five-member ULFA-I group had gone to another tea estate in Digboi area of Tinsukia district with the intention of kidnapping its garden manager, who, however, managed to escape, the official said.

Police has registered a suo motu case against ULFA (Independent) headed by its 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua who is against peace talks, the official added.
Meanwhile, senior police officials from Guwahati have arrived here to conduct investigations into the matter, he said.
The tea company officials were unreachable for comments.