GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia said that the Army would launch a fresh offensive against the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULEA), The deadline for the surrender of cadres expired on Jan.31.

Since the State Government set the deadline about a month ago, more than 40 militants of the outfit have surrendered, remarked Saikia. Among the lot, at least 50 were reportedly trained by the Kachin insurgents of northern Kurma.

To avoid impersonation, the authorities apparently made it compulsory for all those who surrendered to come with their arms. It is learned that sophisticated arms and ammunition, including carbines, revolvers, hand grenades etc. were deposited by the ultras before they surrendered.

According to the Chief Minister, the Center had, in a directive to the Assam Government, asked it to give the ultras time to surrender, failing which the Army would be called in. The Army operation, which was decided at a meeting between the Army higher ups and State Government officials on Saturday night at Dispur, would begin a total crackdown on the ultras who had fanned out over all the districts.

This is the third time that the Army is launching an offensive against the outfit, since Operation Rhino was launched in September 1991.

ULFA militants have carried out at least three kidnappings during the month, On January 26, the outlawed organization’s members killed three persons and said that they were Republic Day gifts, The ghastly incident was preceded by a call for boycotting Republic Day celebrations. In two separate notices on Sunday, the Government repeated the warning to the ULFA militants to surrender and called upon the people to. come out with information as to the whereabouts of the members of the outfit, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and the Bodo Security Force (BSF). Refusing to comment on the expiry of the deadline, an Amy spokesperson said that the selective joint operation against ULFA launched earlier was now on in seven districts of Assam.

The district in Upper Assam.

 

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 5, 1993