Guwahati: An independent candidate for the Assam Assembly elections and editor of a prominent Bengali daily, Bijoykrishna Nath, has received a letter from the proscribed ULFA demanding Rs 25 lakh from him.
Nath, contestant from Guwahati (West) constituency, told reporters on Wednesday that the extortion note on the ULFA letterhead dated 02/06 was received at his office on Monday and it was preceded by a phone call that it was being sent to him.
The editor and proprietor of the `Dainik Jugasankha', published simultenuously from Guwahati and Silchar, showed the ULFA letter demanding the money to be paid by March 27.
A caller identifying himself as an ULFA member repeatedly called Nath from a West Bengal mobile number on Tuesday, demanding that he make payment by Wednesday instead of March 27.
On being shown the note, city special superintendent of police Nitul Gogoi confirmed that the letter was a genuine one, he said.
The district electoral officer, on being informed about the incident, provided the contestant with an additional security personnel in addition to the one he already had.
Nath said he also drew the attention of ULFA peace talks facilitator and noted Assamese writer Indira Roisam Goswami to the ULFA demand.
Last night, on being told that Nath was unable to make the payment as he did not have that kind of money, the editor said, the caller told him that a person would be sent to take back the extortion note.
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