Militancy In Assam, Changing Patterns Of Assam Insurgency: Ulfa (I) From 2010-2024

Elachi Bagan route from Longvi Basti to ULFA(I)779 camp across Patkai.

 

Ulfa was severely crippled by arms seizure in 2004 and 2007 in Bangladesh and in 2009 Paresh Barua relocated from Bangladesh after he first entered the country in 2001.The outfit also began to sell weapons to other insurgent outfits of NEI. The PCPIA was formed by the issue of ‘sovereignty’ stood as a sticking point between the government and the jailed leaders, who were themselves divided into two factions.

In 2009-10 the outfit slowly disentangled from Bangladesh and its cadres entered Assam and slowly made their way into Myanmar. There are also looming threat of new recruitment in strongholds of Ulfa near the Myanmar Border. The PCG (People's Consultative Group) formed during the time to mediate on the peace process could not break the ice and the peace process stuck.

On September 3rd 2011 the Central Government in a tripartite agreement decided to suspend operations against the Ulfa’ Pro Talk faction, and in the fag end of 2023 the faction announced the disbanding of the outfit. What emerged after the September 2011 split was the Ulfa-I (Independent) that had already  began to activate the violent path from 2008, in anticipation of a split and to make is presence felt. With NSCN-IM in talks with GOI since 1997, the NSCN-K became the outfit of choice for the beleaguered Ulfa-I.

Ulfa(I) Commander-in- Chief Paresh Baruah went to Bangladesh in 2001. In 2004 he collaborated with India’s adversarial country through Jamaat-BNP combine (2001-2006) regime to bring ten trucks of sophisticated weapons at Chittagong port, that was caught by Bangladesh Police. The sophisticated weapons were facilitated to arm the Ulfa that lost all its weaponry in December 2003 ‘Ops All Clear’ in Bhutan. The Bangladesh intelligence agencies supported ULFA to smuggle the weapons. The investigation of the case and the subsequent charge sheet against 14 persons, that included Ulfa(I) Chief. Paresh Baruah and top ministers of Jamaat-e- Islami and BNP Government.

The Minister Lutforzaman Babar in Khalida Zia’s government was sentenced to life imprisonment. Two top Jaanat leaders and ministers in the 2000-06 Khaleda Zia Ministry, Salahuddin Quadir Choudhury and Motiur Rahman Nizami who were also involved in 1971 genocide in Bengladesh, was sentenced to death. The story of the arms haul first came to light after the British magazine Jane’s Defence Weekly broke the story. In 2007 during Ulfa (I) Cn.C Paresh Baruah stay in Bangladesh, in Tinsukia dist 51 Hindi speaking people were gunned down.

Currently, Ulfa operates through three primary camps i.e. 779 Camp, Diamond Camp and Hakhi Camp. The ULFA 779 camp is at Waktham basti in Papung area a stone throw away from Indo-Myanmar border at Nampong where the Panchau pass is located. This camp is led by Maj. Gen Arunodoi Dohutia, serving as a crucial stronghold for the group’s operations.

Diamond Camp, also known as ECHQ(Eastern Command Headquarter), is managed by Maj. Gen. Nayan Medhi and is situated in Howkat Basti, just across the international border near Mon district. Hakhi Camp, referred to as GCHQ (General Central Headquarter) is overseen by Lt. Gen. Michal Deka Phukan and the camp is at Hakhi Basti opposite Longding district along the Indo-Myanmar border. Each of these camps not only illustrates the ongoing complexities of insurgency in the region but also underscores the strategic networks that sustain extremist activities, posing significant challenges to both regional security and stability

Ulfa (I) activities :-

In 2016, Kishore Sah from Philobari tragically lost his life, leaving six others injured in a grenade attack. In 2017, Anteswar Mahanta 55-year member of the Village Defense Party(VDP) and his son Karun Mahanta was killed in SimoluguriKakopathar.In 2018, a series of violent incidents occurred, including the killing of a young Assamese man from Tingrai,Digboi who wanted to escape from the Ulfa(I) camp is gunned down. That same year Ulfa(I),ambushed security personnel at Katha Adarsha gaon in Jagun. Additionally, five Bengali individuals were killed in Kherbari, Dhola, under the Sadiya police district, and there was a kidnapping incident in Samdang Tea Estate, Doomdooma.

SI Bhaskar Kalita, Officer-in-Charge, Bordumsa was killed by Ulfa(I) on 04.05.2018 at Kujugaon, PS-Bordumsa. The five members of Ulfa team are Rupam Asom, Gyan Asom, Jaan Asom, Yangkho and Tiger Asom.Tiger Asom was arrested by NIA for his involvement in killing of 05(five) Bengali speaking people in Kherbari under Dholla PS on 01st November 2018.The dead  body of Jaan Asom was found floating in Buridihing river of Tekeri Majuli Village under Pangaree PS on 27.09.2018.

Swadesh Asom arrested by NIA for Dhola massacre of 2018.In 2019, violence continued with a kidnapping in Alubari, Digaru Hills TE, Arunachal Pradesh, alongside the killing of another cadre in a Myanmar based camp of the outfit. An ambush on security forces occurred on March 10 in Jagun Phaneng Gaon, near Leakhapani police station. That year also saw the tragic killing of Niranjan Asom who belonged to an upper Assam district was killed when he traid to flee the camp.On December 21-2020,On 26 Jan 2020 serial bomb blast in three places at Dibrugarh and Duliajan by Ulfa (I).There was casualty. Ulfa(I) SS Col Rupam Asom and his team were reported to be involved in the kidnapping of the Quippo Oil's employees from Changlang area of Arunachal Pradesh. After more than three months in captivity, both employees were eventually released in April 2021.

On 21.04.2021 Ulfa (I) with the help of Basanta Borgohain who was an employee of Assam Police kidnapped 03(three) ONGC employees from Lakuwa oilfields, Sivasagar. The kidnapped employees are Mohini Mohan Gogoi, Ritul Saikia and Alakesh Saikia. This happened when the BJP Government of Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as CM of Assam. In 2021, a notable incident involved the money receipt by Ulfa(1) SS Brig Arunodoi Dohotia of an extorted amount of Rs. 50 lakh from an Over Ground Worker (OGW) in the Pangsau Pass area. This individual, previously arrested multiple times, had also supplied COVID vaccines to insurgent camps.

Gyan Asom died in an encounter at Dopathar under Kakopothar PS on 1st July 2022.Yankhu died when he took part  in a ambush by Ulfa(I) on 19th Assam Rifle camp at Pangsau Pass, Arunachal Pradesh on 9th August' 2022. On 14th November 2022, at Digboi-Pangree road an IED blast and firing targeted army personnel, resulting in injuries to one Ulfa(I)cadre.Uday Asom was killed in an encounter at Malu Gaon Area under Margherita PS on 9th February’ 2023.In 2024, a significant operation resulted in the recovery of arms, ammunition, and explosives from the Upper Dihing Forest under Pengeeri police station on August 31.

Between the years 2000 and 2021, a total of 161 Hindispeaking individuals were tragically killed by Ulfa(I) highlighting the severe impact of violence in the region. The most devastating years were 2000, with 53 casualties; 2003, which saw 30 lives lost; and 2007, when 51 individuals were killed. With the coup against Sheikh Hasina in 2024, the Mohammed Yunus Caretaker Government had already taken an ambivalent stance as far as Bangladesh right wing elements are concerned.That may encourage Ulfa(I) to shift its bases to Bangladesh.