ULFA-I threatens to stop business of tea company in Assam

Guwahati, April 8: The proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) or ULFA-I led by fugitive insurgents’ leader, Paresh Barua today threatened to close down the business of reputed tea company, Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited (APPL) in Assam unless the company stops recruiting people from outside Assam and shifts its Corporate Headquarter and Registered Office to Assam.
 In a notice which has been circulated among media persons here, addressed to the tea company, the ULFA-I stated that it appreciated the company doing business exploiting resources of Assam for profit, but it at the same time must ensure that the indigenous people of Assam too get benefits out of the business of the APPL.
The ULFA-I criticized the management of the company for recruiting people from outside the state of Assam and keeping its Registered Office and Corporate Headquarter outside Assam.
The rebel group has also taken exception to the APPL’s policy of manning its Administrative Office in Guwahati by engaging employees only on contract.
However, the website of the APPL says that it has its Corporate Office at Christian Basti on G S Road in Guwahati. It has its headquarter at 1 Bishop Lefroy Road in Kolkata.
The company has 20 tea estates in Assam – six in Upper Assam, 7 in Jorhat and Golaghat districts and 7 in North Assam. All these tea estates were originally owned by Tata Tea Limited before the take-over by the APPL.
According to the company website, the tea estates in Eastern Assam are:   Borhat TE, Nahorkutia TE, Nahartoli TE, Achabam TE, Powai TE and Chubwa TE.
The tea estates in Jorhat and Golaghat districts are: Lattakoojan TE, Kakajan TE, Hathikuli TE, Teok TE, Borjan TE, Bhelaguri TE and Difloo TE.
The tea estates in North Assam are: Majuli TE, Lamabari TE, Nahorani TE, Kellyden TE, Nonoi TE, Hattigor TE, Sagmootea TE