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North East : Security forces intensify operations against ULFA - 3 killed

	October 01, 2007

Security forces in Assam have intensified their operations against the beleaguered secessionist outfit ULFA. According to reports, security forces operating against the outfit eliminated three militants on Sept. 25 in two separate encounters, spanning Assam’s Dibrugarh district and Lohit district of Arunachal Pra¬desh.



Two ULFA militants were killed but another managed to flee during the encounter with police at Khowangjan Kosolowa village under Tingkhong police station in Dibrugarh district. Dibrugarh superintendent of police V.K. Ramisetti said the slain ULFA militants had been identified as Nabin Dutta and Ram Gogoi. A US-made revolver, a mobile phone, a mobile charger, incriminating documents and some cash were recovered from the spot.



In the other incident, troops from the 19 Kumaon Regiment shot dead an unidentified ULFA militant in Manabhum reserve forest in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh. The army recov¬ered a 7.62mm self-loading rifle (SLR) along with 21 rounds of ammunition from the slain rebel.





ULFA set to split



ULFA could be heading for a split, unable to absorb the aftershocks of reverses it has suffered in the past few months.

This was stated by Lt Gen. B.S. Jaswal, the new general-officer-commanding of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps at a news conference in Guwahati on Sept. 26. He said intercepted electronic messages of the banned outfit pointed to this development.



The GOC said the messages indicated serious “dissension and disgruntlement” in the ULFA rank and file that had led to “inter¬necine clashes” within the outfit.



“Something is definitely brewing in ULFA and a split may ul¬timately take place,” he added.



Gen. Jaswal attributed the churning within ULFA to margin¬alisation of the leadership, brought about by the arrest of top guns like Prabal Neog, and the hardships faced by its activists at the grassroots.



He said the ULFA activists were under tremendous physical and psychological pressure. “They are dying of malaria without any treatment. They are also finding themselves choked due to in¬creasing pressure from the security forces.”



Gen. Jaswal’s revelation comes amid reports that serious differences have cropped up within ULFA over the functioning of the outfit.



The general said it was because of the decimation of its strength that ULFA was now forging alliances with other militant groups and outsourcing its subversive activities by hiring “unemployed and even mentally deranged” youth to plant bombs or lob grenades.



“If it (the outfit) wants a ceasefire, we must make it clear that it first needs to come to a designated camp.”





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Bloggers question ULFA’s senseless killings



In an interesting turn of events, outlawed ULFA finds itself in a spot, hard put to explain its demand for “sovereignty” and the senseless killings it has been indulging in.



“You might know that every fool or mad man always thinks himself is intelligent and wise.” That was ULFA spokesman Ruby Bhuyan reacting sharply to a blogger in an ongoing debate in an e-group, Assamonline, last week.



The debate started with a statement by ULFA chairman wishing Jnanpith Awardee, Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami a speedy recovery, when she was undergoing treatment in a hospital. A few of the bloggers took offence and protested.



The outburst triggered an interesting debate when Ruby Bhuyan, ULFA’s spokesman breaking silence responded. With whom ULFA is fighting ? It is hard to comprehend with whom are they fighting ? Is it the common innocent people ? It is surpris¬ing that ULFA has a soft corner for Bangladeshis but burst bombs at places where innocent people walk.



They even don’t have the guts to fight with army and spread terror among common people. It is what they call revolution ? Asks an angry member.



Another member went a step ahead and asked will ULFA reveal about the value of the total properties owned by Paresh Barua and his family now and before April 7, 1979. If so, please tell us the means of acquiring the whole property. I am afraid ... Ruby’s answer to this will be once again the same ‘What will you do...”



“Your idea of sovereignty is doubtful just because of your actions. Killings can’t be supported anywhere. We’re not Taliban, mind you,” commented a member, some of whom are apparently based abroad.



Just because of you people, investors still hesitate going to Assam. Even tourism is getting discouraged, and your inhuman activities are affecting localites directly. Their business getting affected and their family always live in tensions and fear.



A Guwahati-based journalist joined in by pleading to carry on the debate. Please do not stop, especially Ruby. We, the lesser mortals who are making a living out of roaming around hundreds of villages of Assam in the past 20 years, are enjoying the debate very much. Specially Ruby, glad that you are also responding to barrage of outbursts.



“This is the first time in 20 years of covering militancy, we have found some one from the ULFA responding so frequently. Do not disengage Ruby. This is a blog and everyone has full right to express their opinion fearlessly.”