Defying the shut down notice given by ULFA, Guwahati-based satellite news channel NETV has alleged that the state government continues to maintain links with the banned outfit. “We stand by the story and there is no question of giving an apology to ULFA. There is an understanding between the outfit and the government,” NETV managing director Manoranjan Sinh told reporters.

On January 27, the channel had carried a news story saying that ULFA had taken money from the government for letting the National Games pass off peacefully.

Sinh said the prime reason behind the ULFA’s displeasure was the live coverage of the massacre of Hindi speaking people at Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. She felt ULFA’s threat could have been instigated by the Gogoi government since her channel had been critical of the state government and had always exposed corruption.

“The CM criticised NETV at a press conference and within twelve hours of that the ULFA issued us a notice,” she explained, adding that Gogoi never had a consistent policy against the outfit.

Since her arrival here, Sinh has written to the PM, home minister and chairperson of UPA Sonia Gandhi highlighting the effort to “muzzle” the press and urging them to “restrain” the state government from maintaining links with militants.