ULFA Violence Continues despite Counter Terror Operations in India’s Northeast

By Animesh Roul

In fresh attacks, United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has triggered powerful explosions on January 21 (Sunday) killing at least one and injuring some eight others. The first explosion took place near New Bongaigaon railway station, injuring at least three people, while the second blast came in the evening near a crowded vegetable market in Bahari village in Barpeta district that killed one people on the spot and five more people were injured. Sunday’s blasts are the latest in the series of attacks perpetrated by ULFA since January 5.

Unruffled by the ongoing Army offensive (Operation Clear) in the region, the outfit has been warning migrant Hindi-speaking workers to quit Assam with immediate effect and also threatened to attack government officials and ruling party leaders if the counter terror operation continues in the State. They have in fact killed a congress party worker, Bogadhar Moran in Digboi recently.

If Indian intelligence agencies are to be believed, ULFA has strong ties with Bangladesh Intelligence agency DGFI and ISI of Pakistan.

Nevertheless, Indian Army's 'Operation Clear' has been intensified to neutralize ULFA militants in Lohit, Tirap and Changlang districts of bordering Arunachal Pradesh. In Assam, Dibru Saikhowa and Lakhipathar reserve forests have witnessed army offensive against the militants. More than 5 ULFA militants killed and many more captured so far.

Four major militant outfits operating in Northeast India have called a general strike and a boycott of Jan 26 Republic Day celebrations. ULFA along with the Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO), Manipur People's Liberation Front(MPLF) and Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF) in a joint statement indicated that ''Jan. 26 is just like imposing the Constitution on the peoples of North East region. Hence a boycott of the day has been called.'' The four outfits said the Indian Constitution ''undermined the basic unity of the north east region by fragmenting it on ethnic lines''. ULFA also boycotted forthcoming (Feb 9-18) National games in the State. More terror related violence expected in the coming days in Assam and other regions of India, especially ahead of Jan. 26 Republic Day celebrations.

A Chronology of Bloodshed in Assam since January 05, 2007:

Jan 20: At least two people got killed and 13 others injured in a ULFA triggered IED blast in the busy chamber road of Tinsukia town of Assam. The bomb was planted in a motorcycle. Elsewhere, in the ongoing offensive against ULFA, two militants including a self-styled corporal Palashmoni Barua @ Bibhisan Chetia of 28th battalion were killed while five managed to escape during two separate shootouts in Assam.

Jan 19: Two people killed and around 10 others injured when ULFA militants detonated a bomb in the Adabari area in Guwahati. Elsewhere, suspected ULFA triggered another blast targeting ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd) pipeline at Lakwa in Sivasagar.

Jan 17: One person was killed and 10 others critically injured in a bomb attack by ULFA suspects in a market near the Dispur capital complex in Guwahati.

Jan 12: Three ULFA militants killed and three others arrested during a counter-insurgency operation in the Darrang district.

Jan 5-8: At least 67 people were killed (mostly Hindi-speaking migrant workers from Bihar state) and over 45 injured in a spate of violence by ULFA in the districts of Sibsagar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji.

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