Assam: Ulfa’s End Game

A  spate of abductions by the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) within a span of three months has brought militancy back on the centrestage in Assam and raised the spectre of a possible re-run of the outfit’s violent ways. The alleged involvement of a policeman and civilians have also come as a pointer to the outfit potentially regaining mass support.

In December, the Ulfa faction led by ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua—the only group still active and carring the appendix ‘Independence’ to differentiate itself from its splinter groups—kidnapped two officials of the New Delhi-­headquartered Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited from Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. They were released separately after over a hundred days.

On April 21, the outfit abducted three employees of the ONGC in Assam. While two of them were rescued by security forces on April 24 following an encounter in Nagaland, the fate of the third employee remains uncertain.

Sources attribute the abductions to the outfit’s depleting coffers and yearning to remain relevant after being forced into a corner through relentless operations over the last few years  and large-scale arrests and desertions.  A former Ulfa leader says the cadres are facing a cash crunch and abduction for ransom is the only way to stay afloat. “Also, such action serves the dual purpose of raising money while painting a picture of the outfit being still alive and kicking,” he adds.

He also explains that matters have only worsened in the outfit’s Myanmar camps after the coup in that country. “The situation is not conducive for them…they can’t stay holed up at one place for long, and all along they have to shell out money for shelter, adding to the financial burden,” he says.

Some militants who escaped from Myanmar and surrendered lately say they could not take it any longer as they would have to go without food at times. Besides, they also complained of “frustration” arising primarily out of non-act­ivity—yet another reason cited for the outfit’s attempt to return to old ways to keep the flock together.

Following the abduction of the Quippo employees, the Ulfa had demanded Rs 20 crore in exchange for their release. It is not known whether the amount was paid, although there had been protracted negotiation between the outfit and the company. The grapevine has it at least Rs 5 crore did change hands before the duo walked free.

But, as the Ulfa goes about its ways, what must come as shocker to the Assam Police is the involvement of one of its own in the abduction of the ONGC employees.

On April 26, police arrested constable Basanta Buragohain (in pic) for “actively participating in the abduction and for being a part of the entire conspiracy”. He was in charge of security at the ONGC’s rig site in Lakwa of Charaideo district from where the three were abducted. According to reports, Buragohain had also travelled in the ONGC ambulance used to take away the three employees.  Police have arrested 15 other civilians for their complicity in the act.

“This is indeed worrisome, after all the good work done to subdue the militants. We will have to take stock and ascertain what motivated him to help in the abduction,” says a police officer on the condition of anonymity.

If the Ulfa’s renewed abductions bring back memories of the past, so do the arrests of the policeman and so many civilians together. Both do not portend well for Assam. 

By Dipankar Roy in Guwahati