Date:21/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/21/stories/2008072156241200.htm

National

Alleged ULFA militant held

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: An alleged United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militant has been arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on charge of trying to extort Rs.25 lakh from a Member of Parliament. The police have reportedly seized from him two letters addressed to a Union Minister and a former Chief Minister extending support of some MPs on the nuclear deal issue.

Romen Baruah was picked up for questioning by the New Delhi police from the official residence of Anwar Hussain, an MP from Dhubri in Assam, after he contacted senior police officers on Saturday evening alleging that Romen was trying to extort money from him.

During interrogation, Romen purportedly confessed to his links with ULFA and disclosed that he had been asked to hand over an extortion letter to Mr. Hussain. According to the accused, the outfit was earlier demanding Rs.5 lakh from the MP, but the demand was later raised to Rs.25 lakh following a tiff with him.