The chief of ULFA’s armed wing, Paresh Barua, has undergone a surgery and his condition is ‘‘better’’ now, but he has been advised ‘‘complete bed rest’’, the outfit’s chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa stated in a statement e-mailed to the media this evening. Rajkhowa’s statement came in the wake of five days of speculations about what exactly had happened to Barua a few days after he had rejected an offer by the Prime Minister’s Office to come forward for discussions. Rajkhowa had last Friday stated that Barua had taken ill and was shifted to a safer location for treatment and that he was to undergo surgery, which prompted many to speculate that Barua had been sidelined by the chairman.‘‘We want to inform all our well-wishers, intellectuals and media friends that the condition of Paresh Barua is much better after an operation, but he has been advised complete bed rest for a few days,’’ Rajkhowa’s statement, issued in Assamese from an undisclosed location said. Rajkhowa, who had called upon all concerned to contact him till Barua was back, however, indirectly criticized the government by saying that some quarters were out to spread misinformation. ‘‘The people do not need any certificate about our patriotism, unity and sincerity,’’ he said.
