NEW DELHI: The central government Nov. 28 placed Asam under president’s rule and declared the state a disturbed area.
Ousted chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is known to support former premier V P Singh, condemned the proclamation as “a betrayal of the democratic process.”
A presidential notification issued here Nov 27, said the state assembly, whose term expires next month, has been kept in suspended animation.
Two separatist outfits the united liberation front of Asam (ULFA) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) have been banned. GUWAHATI tis Operation Bajrang that is currently sweeping the ‘Assam countryside, fierce gun battles are on between crack army commandos and trained guerillas of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). The scene of the fighting is the dense jungle in the Upper Assam districts of Tinsukhia, Dibrugarh, and North Lakimpur and to some extent Nagaon. The ULFA militants are setting up booby-traps to obstruct the movement of advancing troops although the rebels have abandoned many of their camps. The international borders with Burma as well as the neighboring states of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have been sealed. Never before bad had the Assamese witnessed such a massive army operation and are, therefore, extremely panic-stricken. Serious allegations of army atrocities on innocent people, including rape, have begun to pour in.
In a swift predawn swoop on Nov 28, hours after President R. Venkataraman dismissed the Asam Gana Parishad (AGP) Government of Prafulla Kumar Mabanta, and imposed central rule in Assam, the army’s Eastern Command swung into action, raiding ULFA hideouts, disarming and flushing out the rebels.
In charge of Operation Bajrang is Lt. Gen KS. Brar GOC-in-C.
In charge of Operation Bajrang is Lt. Gen KS. Brar GOC-in-C. Eastern Command of Operation Bluestar fame. The army and paramilitary forces have been vested with sweeping powers. Assam has been declared as a disturbed area and ULFA-banned.
Lt. Gen. Brar said on Nov 29, that ULFA had laid boo traps at Lakhipathar, one of its major bases south of Digboi in Tinsukhia district, to check the movement of advancing troops.” These mines were similar to the ones used by the LTTE in Sri-Lanka, the general said and added that they were detonated by the militants through electric wires.
So far the fiercest battle between the army and ULFA has taken place at the latter’s Lakhipathar base where one jawan and guerrilla were killed on Nov 28. Two commandos and an equal number of ULFA cadres have been injured, Lt. Gen. Brar said.
The army claims to have raided five ULFA camps and arrested over 50 rebels. They say nearly 200 weapons have been recovered in the course of the operation. The five camps are Lakhipathar in Tinsukia district, Nabel in Nagaon, Phulbari in Sonitpur, Chandrapur in Kamrup and another in North Lakhimpur district. Lt. Gen. Brar said that a large number of belongings like Maruti Gypsies, TVs, VCRs, Honda generating sets, explosive devices have been behind by the militants.
According to reports received here six trucks were set ablaze by rebels in Tingrai in Tinsukia district on Nov 29. “The army is suppressing information, many innocent persons have been killed a few girls have been taken away by the jawans to their camp” a resident in Digboi reached on telephone alleged. The local press reported that tanks have reached some places in Tunsukia district. However, the district administration denied has any knowledge of tanks being brought in.
According to the AGP president, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, about 700 villagers around the Lakhipathar area have fled their villages in panic apprehending atrocities by the army. They are being currently put up at the central ‘Nam Ghar’ (temple) at Digboi. Delegations of AGP MPs have left for the area to verify allegations of army atrocities.
Assam Governor D.D. Thakur strongly defended his recommendation to the President for clamping of central rule in Assam, Thakur said. “There was no other option. The administration in eight districts had totally collapsed and the militants were running a parallel adminis e police were just onlookers.
Thakur also categorically ruled out the possibility of holding talks with ULPA, he said: “Indian sovereignty is not a commodity to be negotiated.” Elections in Assam could be held only after the return of normalcy. “For this, I require the people’s cooperation,” he said.
But it was Lt, Gen. Brar’s statement that the “army is here to stay” that has worried sections of the people here. The General said on Nov 29. “The army has not only come to flush out the militants, it has come to stay. We shall be here until the confidence of the people of Assam is restored.” An official spokesman said the decision to impose central rule was taken following the state governor’s report on the “deteriorating law and order situation” particularly in view of ULFA militants indulging in secessionist activities and violent crimes like murders, kidnapping and extortion.
By December 5, 260 ULFA activists were captured in operation Bajrang.
Four ULFA men were earlier killed and one other injured, while an army Jawan was killed and two others injured in the operation.
About 25 ULFA militants were arrested from different hideouts during the last 24 hours while the Assam police had captured 113 ultras since the operation started ‘on Nov 28.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 7, 1990
