Anglo-Dutch multinational giant Unilever is back in the news with its Indian subsidiary Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) admitting earlier this month that it has received a Rs 20 million extortion demand from the separatist United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). This has brought the spotlight back on the insurgency and the security situation itself in Assam. It has also lead to disclosures by the security agencies that several other top tea companies have received similar extortion demands from the outlawed rebel group in recent months.

That the ULFAâ€â€