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Assam : ULFA shifts focus, to challenge security forces |
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For all intent and purposes, the Centre’s peace process with ULFA is dead, and the two sides are at loggerheads. Reports from Guwahati say, the banned militant outfit, the United Liber¬ation Front of Asom (ULFA), has returned to its pet agenda of challenging the armed forces. Its military spokesman, Raju Bar¬uah, has warned security forces of dire consequences if they did not stop killing its “unarmed members” in bogus encounters.
The “fake encounter” drew public attention when a man from Laopati village in Tinsukia district fell victim to the circum¬stances. Twenty-four-year-old Buddheswar Moran, a watchman in a local tea plantation, was killed by security personnel at mid¬night of May 5. The personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles initially claimed that Buddheswar was associated with the ULFA, but locals denied this and later the Army admitted that Buddhes¬war had no link with the underground group. It even apologised for the unfortunate incident and ordered a probe. “The killing of Buddheswar Moran was unfortunate,” said Major-General NC Marwah, GoC, Second Mountain Division.
The public resentment even compelled the state government to ask the security forces “not to commit excesses and ensure basic human rights of civilians” during counter-insurgency operations. Dispur also ordered an independent probe.
Meanwhile, a large crowd assembled at Dhola on NH 37 to protest against Buddheswar’s killing. Shouting anti-Army slogans, the villagers started an indefinite blockade of the highway on May 7. Some in Kakopathar and Doom Dooma also protested. The ULFA lost no time in lending its support. “The mounting anti-Army agitation justifies our stand that the Army has unleashed a reign of terror in Asom,” claimed ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa.
Protests against ULFA insurgency
As the Congress-led coalition government in Assam celebrated its completion of one year in office on Sunday, May 27, there were protests against its “failure” to protect people’s lives and property from extremist attacks and the United Liberation Front of Asom targeting innocent civilians.
A conglomerate of 29 trade and commerce bodies observed a bandh 24-hour on Monday, May 28, to protest against recent blasts by the ULFA. The Coordination Committee of these trade bodies set a week’s deadline to both the Centre and the State Government to initiate direct and unconditional dialogue with the militant outfit.
It also warned of a Statewide movement if New Delhi and Dispur failed to initiate the process of dialogue with the ULFA within the deadline.
Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta led leaders of 12 political parties in staging a sit-in dharna to protest against May 26 incident and urged both the Centre and militant outfit to immediately sit for unconditional talks.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) also staged a protest with black cloth strapped around the faces of the protesters to condemn the ULFA attack on May 26. Students of Cotton College also hoisted black flags against the bomb blast.
Gogoi vows to curb insurgency
At a public rally organised as part of the celebration, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi vowed to curb insurgency with an iron hand and announced a Rs. 500-crore scheme, “Mukhya Mantri Asom Bikash Yojana” (Chief Minister’s State Development Scheme). The Government would carry forward the agenda of development despite attempts by the ULFA to retard the State’s progress by indulging in mindless violence, he said.
The Chief Minister said his Government could not be cowed down by the violence perpetrated by the ULFA. The ruling party was ready to make supreme sacrifices to fight terrorism. The ULFA, which had been demanding “Assam’s independence,” itself was not independent. It was carrying out attacks at the behest of foreign forces to destroy the State.
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