<p>Guwahati: Former "commander" of banned insurgent group ULFA -- Drishti Rajkhowa -- joined ruling BJP in Assam on Thursday amid reports about drone attack by security forces on the camps of the group's faction ULFA-Independent. </p><p>Rajkhowa, who surrendered to security forces in November 2020, joined the saffron party in Guwahati in the presence of BJP's state president, Dilip Saikia, Cabinet Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah and a few other leaders. </p>.Drone attacks on ULFA(I) camps along Myanmar border? Defence officials deny .<p>At least 50 others from Congress, Aam Admi Party, Raijor Dal and few other organisations also joined BJP at the event. </p><p>Manas Sarania, a lawyer of Gauhati High Court, who provided legal support to several insurgent leaders, also joined the saffron party.</p><p>"After coming overground, Rajkhowa was drawn towards BJP's nationalist ideology and got in touch with me. He was requesting me to induct him into the party but we had to wait. Many others like him are also willing to join our party. But we decided to induct him and few others for some strategic reasons," said Saikia while addressing the event. </p><p>Rajkhowa, whose original name is Manoj Rabha, joined ULFA in 1988. According to security officilas, Rajkowa was an IED expert and had undergone arms training in Myanmar, Pakistan and Afghanistan before he surrendered to security forces in Meghalaya in 2020. </p><p>Rajkhowa was made the "deputy commander-in-chief" of Paresh Baruah-led faction, ULFA-Independent now having camps in Myanmar. </p><p>Rajkhowa joined BJP at a time the party faced a lot of questions over reports about drone attacks on ULFA-I camps in Myanmar. ULFA-I on July 13 claimed that three of its leaders died and 19 other cadres injured in the attack. Army, however, refuted the claims.</p><p>Opposition parties including Congress said the development could hamper the peace process with ULFA-I. Although former insurgent leaders joining political parties is not new in Assam, timing of Rajkhowa's induction drew a lot of attention.</p>
<p>Guwahati: Former "commander" of banned insurgent group ULFA -- Drishti Rajkhowa -- joined ruling BJP in Assam on Thursday amid reports about drone attack by security forces on the camps of the group's faction ULFA-Independent. </p><p>Rajkhowa, who surrendered to security forces in November 2020, joined the saffron party in Guwahati in the presence of BJP's state president, Dilip Saikia, Cabinet Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah and a few other leaders. </p>.Drone attacks on ULFA(I) camps along Myanmar border? Defence officials deny .<p>At least 50 others from Congress, Aam Admi Party, Raijor Dal and few other organisations also joined BJP at the event. </p><p>Manas Sarania, a lawyer of Gauhati High Court, who provided legal support to several insurgent leaders, also joined the saffron party.</p><p>"After coming overground, Rajkhowa was drawn towards BJP's nationalist ideology and got in touch with me. He was requesting me to induct him into the party but we had to wait. Many others like him are also willing to join our party. But we decided to induct him and few others for some strategic reasons," said Saikia while addressing the event. </p><p>Rajkhowa, whose original name is Manoj Rabha, joined ULFA in 1988. According to security officilas, Rajkowa was an IED expert and had undergone arms training in Myanmar, Pakistan and Afghanistan before he surrendered to security forces in Meghalaya in 2020. </p><p>Rajkhowa was made the "deputy commander-in-chief" of Paresh Baruah-led faction, ULFA-Independent now having camps in Myanmar. </p><p>Rajkhowa joined BJP at a time the party faced a lot of questions over reports about drone attacks on ULFA-I camps in Myanmar. ULFA-I on July 13 claimed that three of its leaders died and 19 other cadres injured in the attack. Army, however, refuted the claims.</p><p>Opposition parties including Congress said the development could hamper the peace process with ULFA-I. Although former insurgent leaders joining political parties is not new in Assam, timing of Rajkhowa's induction drew a lot of attention.</p>