Warrant issued against ULFA chief over Ghose's death

The Union home ministry has held Paresh Barua, leader of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom, responsible for the killing of social activist Sanjoy Ghose, and directed the Assam government to arrest him for murder.

An international warrant has been issued against Barua; Interpol has also issued a worldwide alert to arrest the outlaw.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the home ministry condemned the murder, adding that Barua had confirmed on July 4 that Ghose -- an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience -- had been abducted by ULFA.

The ministry claimed the manner in which Ghose was killed was proof of ULFA's nexus with unscrupulous contractors on Majuli Island whom the social activist had exposed during the course of his work. ULFA, presumably at the behest of these contractors, had abducted Ghose and later eliminated him, the ministry's statement added.