Description: Northeast
India?s most prominent insurgent group, ULFA ? an ethnic secessionist organization in the Indian state of
Assam, which borders
Bangladesh and
Bhutan ? was founded in 1979 at Rang Ghar during anti-foreigner agitation organized by the state?s powerful students?
union. The group?s objective is an independent
Assam, reflected in its ideology of "Oikya, Biplab, Mukti" ("Unity, Revolution, Freedom"). ULFA enjoyed widespread support in upper
Assam in its initial years, especially from 1985 to 1992. ULFA?s kidnappings, killings, and extortion led
New Delhi to ban the group and start a military offensive against it in 1990, which forced it to go underground. ULFA began to lose popularity in the late 1990s after it increasingly targeted civilians, including a prominent NGO activist. It lost further support for its anti-Indian stand during the 1999 Kargil conflict. In recent years, the group has been in decline, losing popular support and suffering from aggressive
counterinsurgency operations by Indian security forces. The
Royal Bhutan Army?s attack on ULFA camps in
Bhutan in 2003 and the suspension of operations by Bodo tribal insurgent groups in
Assam also have contributed to the group?s decline. Despite the ban on the group,
New Delhi held official talks with ULFA?s representative Peace Consultative Group in October.
Observations: Activities
ULFA trains, finances, and equips its cadres for a "liberation struggle", while extortion helps finance
military training and weapons purchases. ULFA conducts hit-and-run operations on security forces in
Assam, selective assassinations, and explosions in public places. During the
1980s and 1990s, ULFA undertook a series of abductions and murders, particularly of businessmen. In 2000, ULFA assassinated an
Assam state minister. In 2003, ULFA killed more than 60 "outsiders" in
Assam, mainly residents of the bordering state of
Bihar. Some important ULFA functionaries surrendered in
Assam, but incidents of violence continue, although of a lesser magnitude than in the past. In 2004, ULFA started targeting civilians and killed some 14 people in August that year.
Strength
ULFA?s earlier strength of more than 3,000 dropped following the December 2003 attack on its camps in
Bhutan. Total cadre strength now is estimated at several hundred, plus supporters providing safe houses and logistical and intelligence assistance.
Location/Area of Operation
ULFA is active in the state of
Assam, and members transit and periodically conduct operations in parts of the neighboring states of
Arunachal Pradesh,
Meghalaya and
Nagaland. All ULFA camps in
Bhutan are reportedly demolished.
External Aid
ULFA reportedly procures and trades in arms with other Northeast Indian groups.