Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in Sivasagar on Sunday, a day after his release on bail. (PTI)

Jan. 2: Dispur today made it clear that public display of Ulfa’s flags, banners and chanting pro-Ulfa slogans are “not in conformity with law” as the outfit remains proscribed.

Sources in chief minister’s office said there had already been a standing order and a fresh one was being issued to all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to end confusion about the government’s stand so that they could act accordingly.

Ulfa, which was formed on April 7, 1979 in the Upper Assam town of Sivasagar, was declared a banned organisation by the Centre in November 1990 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Dispur’s reaction came close on the heels of public display of Ulfa’s flags and banners in Sipajhar in Darrang district yesterday where Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa addressed a gathering.

Pro-Ulfa slogans were even raised here and an Ulfa banner welcoming Rajkhowa was seen dangling from a building right in front of Guwahati Central Jail when Rajkhowa walked out of it yesterday morning. As Ulfa’s flags and banners fluttered freely, security forces apparently turned a blind eye to those, ostensibly not knowing how to react given the “sensitive” nature of the proceedings. Nobody has been picked up till reports last came in.

A police officer, requesting anonymity, said they took a lenient view of Rajkhowa’s supporters shouting pro-Ulfa slogans and carrying Ulfa flags on person and on vehicles since he was released on bail as part of the government’s effort to bring the outfit to the negotiation table.

“We could have arrested them, but desisted from doing so in the greater interest of the peace process. But there is no question of giving them any leeway if they indulge in any violent act or pose any threat to public safety and national security,” he said.

Sources in Darrang police said those involved in public display of Ulfa flags and banners were pro-talks members from Nalbari who cooperated with the police when asked to remove the flags and banners at Orang near Sipajhar.

“It is not that we did not act,” one of them said.

Sonitpur police, however, said they had asked the organisers of such meetings in the district yesterday to ensure that there was no such display of flags.