GUWAHATI (PTD): Armed operations against militant United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) resumed on March 31 months after it was suspended while hardliners of the outfit have announced their decision to resume their armed struggle for an independent Assam.” Making a statement in the State Legislature on April 1 Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia said that army was redeployed on the expiration (of two and a half month period of suspension of armed action against ULFA to ensure that peace prevailed and normal life continued. “The action was an inevitable one”.” Saika said “He said the army was being assisted by the border security for the central reserve police force and the state police.” The districts where armed operations were launched are Nagaon Sibsagar Darrang Tinsukia Dibrugarh and Nalbari.” Official reports said that security measures had been beefed up throughout the state and search operations launched on vehicles. The detainees undergoing treatment in the Medical College Hospital here have been moved to different jails of the State.” The ULFA hard liners also alleged that the government had imposed humiliating conditions while forcing the ULFA to lay down arms before commencement of peace talks.” The statements alleged that the government went back on its own commitment on not arresting of killing any ULFA activist or sympathizer after suspension of army operations. The ULFA leaders also accused the government of not giving them the opportunity to discuss the political problem in Assam with other Ethnic groups and organization of the State.” Rajkhowa Gogoi and Barua were member soft he ULFA team which called on premier P.V. Narasimha Rao in New Delhi in the second week of January following suspension of army operations against the ULFA  Assam chief minister Hiteswar Saika had also attended the meeting.” The Ulfa leaders had given the assurance that the outfit would abjure violence. Lay down arms and the peace talks would be held within the framework of the Indian constitution.” The suspension of army operation since January 14 was extended twice. The suspension ended last midnight.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> April 10, 1992