Assam put on high alert in wake of ULFA’s 12hr bandh call

June 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Guwahati June 25 (ANI): Security has been beefed up in Assam, in wake of the 12 hour “Asom bandh” called by the United liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) today.

The banned ULFA has called for dawn-to-dusk bandh to protest against the alleged “fake encounter” by the security forces in which two of its cadres were killed on Sunday.

According to sources special security arrangements have been made and the State Government has directed normal functioning of all its offices.

Guwahati has been put on high alert, with intensive patrolling and checking of vehicles been carried out at sensitive places like airport, railway station, bus stations, and industrial areas.

Strict vigil has been put at the Kamakhya Temple where a four-day Ambubachi Mela is happening and lakhs of devotees are expected to partake in this mela.

However, the ULFA said it will not disturb the examinations of schools and colleges, water and milk supply, hospitals and medical services, electric supply and the press.

Security forces have launched intensive operations against the militants in this northeastern state in recent past, killing more than 20 ultra of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and few others belonging to the ULFA. (ANI)

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Dhaka hunts N-E rebels on its soil

April 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Already plagued by threats from homegrown Islamic extremists, the Bangladeshi government has ordered eviction of militants operating in India’s northeastern states enjoying a safe sanctuary in that country. A highly placed Indian police source, who did not want to be named, said Bangladeshi security forces raided several locations in Moulavi Bazar district bordering western Tripura to track down Indian militants on Monday.

Troops from the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) dismantled a camp of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) at Satchari in Moulavi Bazar and arrested a militant while the others fled to nearby forests without challenging the troops, the source said. “Some 15 militants were in the camp before the RAB stormed it.

They were able to flee the area with arms, ammunitions and important articles,” the source said. The RAB conducted raids on various locations in Moulavi Bazar, where militant outfits such as the ATTF, People’s Liberation Army of Manipur, the United Liberation Front of Assam and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland are believed to be based.

The militants, living in hideouts in northeastern Bangladesh, are now trying to cross over to India. But the barbed wire fencing in most parts of the Tripura border is proving to be a major obstacle for them.

Indian security agencies believe that the Bangladeshi government has been prompted to take action against militants of all kinds following the mutiny by some units of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in Dhaka in end-February. Dhaka strongly suspects that the mutinous Bangladesh Rifles personnel had received the backing of militant outfits in Bangladesh to carry out large-scale killing of its officers.

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ULFA faction fears sabotage during Lok Sabha elections

March 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Guwahati, March 4 (ANI): The ‘pro-talk’ group of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which declared a unilateral ceasefire with the government, has warned of efforts at disruption during scheduled Lok Sabha election in Assam by the parent group of ULFA.

United Liberation of Front of Assom (ULFA) is presently divided into the ‘Pro-talk’ and the ‘Anti-talk’ groups.

‘Pro-talks’ leaders have given assurance of morally supporting those political outfits who promise security in the region.

“We will not be following any direct rule but the parties whose viewpoints are identical to the public of Assam, whose manifesto would include security issue of the state and who would work for the public of Assam, we would morally support them,” said Mrinal Hazarika, the Chairman of ULFA Pro-talk central committee.

“There is possibility of sabotage. But for this, there is no public support. This is not good. ULFA might create sabotage at two to three places. So sabotage is possible but motivating the people to support any party will not happen,” said Jiten Dutta, General secretary of the ULFA Pro-talk central committee.

Since 1991, ULFA has influenced elections in Assam, and political parties backed by them have benefited. However, analysts fear that as ULFA’s influence has been waning over the years; they could go in for strong-arm tactics in the upcoming elections.

“Keeping in mind that their support base in Bangladesh is coming down. So as a survival question there is possibility that ULFA might go for some kind of explosions or they might go for selective killing also. So that possibility cannot be ruled out,” said Dr. Noni Gopal Mahanta, a political analyst in Assam.

With declining support and lack of funds, ULFA has resorted to violent activities like killings and extortions to make its presence felt.

Over 20,000 people have been killed so far in the ULFA insurgency. By Peter Alex Todd (ANI)

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ULFA faction fears sabotage during elections

February 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Guwahati, Feb 21 (ANI): A splinter faction of Assam’s main rebel group, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which prefers to have talks with the Central Government for a negotiated settlement to the separatist issue, said the parent group, which opposed such a move, could sabotage the forthcoming general elections.

The ‘pro-talks’ group, which walked out of the ULFA, declared a unilateral ceasefire last year expecting a reciprocal gesture from the Central Government to restore peace in the region.

“There can be sabotage because that doesn’t require public support. ULFA can create sabotage at two or three places. They will be able to motivate people to support political parties advised by them,” Jiten Dutta, General Secretary of pro-talks ULFA group told reporters here on Friday.

Another ‘pro-talks’ group leader said they would ‘morally support’ those political outfits that promise security in the region.

“We will not be following any direct rule but the parties whose viewpoints are identical to the public of Assam, whose manifesto would include security issue of the state and who would work for the public of Assam, we would morally support them,” said Mrinal Hazarika, the faction’s central committee chairman.

Analysts say that since 1991 ULFA has played a major role in every election in Assam, and parties they supported had always got the upper hand.

However, analysts fear that as ULFA’s strength has been dwindling over the years, they could go for strong-arm tactics in upcoming elections.

“If we keep in mind their dwindling strength, then there is a possibility that ULFA might go for some kinds of explosion or they might go for selective killings also. So that possibility on cannot be ruled out,” said Noni Gopal Mahanta, a political analyst.

ULFA has been demanding the independence of Assam since 1979 and accuses New Delhi of exploiting the state’s resources and doing little to develop the province.he outfit has also accused non-Assamese people of plundering the state’s resources and spoiling its culture.

More than 20,000 people have been killed so far in the ULFA insurgency. (ANI)

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