Incidents and Statements involving ULFA: 2010-2012

2012

• December 31: SFs on December 31, 2012 arrested a Bangladeshi linkman of ULFA, identified as Gorango Hajong, in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya when he sneaked into the country from Bangladesh.

• December 30-31: one ULFA-ATF militant was killed, in an encounter with Bangladesh Border Guards (BGB), about a fortnight back at Salsati under Jinaikhati Police Station in Sherpur District of Bangladesh bordering West Garo hills District. Though the identity of the killed militant is yet to be established, a bag found on him has been confirmed to be that of Drishti Rajkhowa. Another ULFA-ATF militant, Gauranga Koch and an unidentified GNLA militant were arrested in that incident.

• December 30: ULFA-ATF accused AXX [apex literary body of Assam] of 'going into the clutches of a section of non-Assamese businessmen of India origin' and said that these businessmen are 'trying to Indian-ise the AXX and turn it into a forum for their business interests'. In a statement issued to the press, Arunoday Axom, 'Assistant Information & Publicity secretary' of ULFA-ATF, objected to the AXX move to name the main pandal of the ensuing Barpeta Road session of the Xabha after the name of Late BP Saraf who was the former Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir High Court.

• December 25: Four ULFA militants, led by 'sergeant major' Indrajit Neog, surrendered before Police in Tinsukia town of same District.

• December 23: One SULFA militant, Mansur Islam, was apprehended from Gauripur in the Dhubri District.

• December 20: One militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as Jayanta Gogoi, surrendered before Police in Dibrugarh District.

• December 19: SFs arrested two ULFA-ATF militants, Asif Ali Khan (45) and Mujamil Haque (30), from village Falimari and Kuntirchar under Dhubri Police Station in Dhubri District.

• December 17: SFs rescued abducted Assam small tea grower Pradip More and his associate, Chandrapal Sharma, from a remote hilltop at Khainala area under Namsai Police Station in Lohit District. SFs launched the operation three days ago. The duo was abducted by militants of the ULFA-ATF and UPDF and were kept in a makeshift camp, said Namsai Police Station officer-in-charge Ratan Nath.

• December 15: SFs arrested two SULFA militants, identified as Jyoti Chandra Nath (32), and Dilip Kumar Rai (38), of from Halakurahat under Golokganj Police Station in the same District.

  UHM has extended the ban on ULFA and NDFB under the Unlawful Prevention Act.

• December 9: SFs arrested one Debabrata Baruah of Tingiripam Kahagaon under Rajgarh Police Station in Dibrugarh District for claiming to be a member of ULFA and issuing threats to people.

• December 5: ULFA-ATF said it would launch a series of activities to oppose, what it called aggression of "Indian culture" and " Indian economy". In a statement, publicity in-charge of ULFA-ATF, Arunodoy Asom, said it will launch its activities soon after Bhogali Bihu in January 2013.

  The personal security of four Upper Assam MLAs and overall security scenario in the region have been reviewed in the wake of allegations of extortion threats by the ULFA-ATF. The MLA's who claimed to have received extortion threat are Rupjyoti Kurmi (Mariani constituency), Debabrata Saikia (Nazira constituency), Bolin Chetia (Sadiya constituency) and Dilip Moran (Doomdooma constituency). While Kurmi, Saikia and Chetia are Congress MLAs, Moran is from the BJP.

• December 4: Paramhans Singh the businessman who was abducted by suspected ULFA-ATF militants managed to escape from captivity.

• December 3: Suspected ULFA-ATF militants abducted an owner of a brick field, Paramhans Singh (50), at Dehajan Kachumari under Demow Police Station in Sivasagar District.

• December 1: ULFA-ATF sent an extortion note of INR 2 million to Doomdooma (Tinsukia District) MLA, Dilip Maran. Police has picked up one person identified as Bitupan Maran in this connection.

  Two militants, suspected to be cadres of the ULFA and GNLA, were killed in an encounter with the army and Police at Maladhara under Lakhipur Police Station of Goalpara District. The slain duos have been identified as GNLA 'corporal' Nazrana K. Marak and ULFA 'lance corporal' Sumanto Roy.

• November 28: Security Forces arrested three migrant labourers from Assam suspected to have links with ULFA from Kanhirapally in Kottayam District. According to Police, the mobile phone sets seized from them had pictures of key ULFA leaders and visuals of parades conducted by the ultra outfit in parts of Assam. The arrested trio was identified as Hemanth Gogoi (22), Dhaniyam Gogoi (53) and Bidyut Chetia (18), all hailing from Sivasagar District of Assam.

  ULFA-ATF on its Protest Day vowed to continue its "struggle" till restoration of the "sovereignty" of the State. ULFA observes November 28 as Protest Day or Black Day against the army's Operation Bajrang, which was launched against the outfit in 1990 and the State was brought under President's rule. Sources in the intelligence said, "ULFA is gaining strength with the help of GNLA, NSCN-K, RVA and splinter group of NDFB too. Several groups, led by senior ULFA leaders like Tibrajit Hazarika, Rupanta Kakati, Arpajyoti Lahkar and Pradeep Gogoi (junior), are sheltering in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap, Changlang and Lohit Districts and Mon in Nagaland."

• November 19: ULFA-ATF in a statement, "thanked" the people of Upper Assam for making the strike a success. ULFA-ATF had called for a Strike in Upper Assam Districts to protest the killing of one of its cadres and two others in Majuli.

  SFs shot dead 'sergeant major 'ULFA-ATF's western command, Saurav Asom alias Bolin Gogoi, in the Shantipahar area under Krishnai Police Station in Goalpara District in an encounter. Arunodoi Asom, 'assistant publicity secretary' of ULFA-ATF, confirmed the death of Saurav Asom. While Saurav was conferred with "second lieutenant" posthumously, Ripunjoy Asom alias Ajit Saikia, who was killed in Majuli on November 15, was given the post of a "captain," the release stated.

• November 18: SFs in an encounter killed a suspected ULFA-ATF militant at Upper Tarabari under Boko Police Station in Kamrup (Rural) District. SFs are yet to ascertain the identity of the slain militant.

  Security has been intensified in Upper Assam ahead of Chhath Puja, which coincides with the 12-hour strike call by the ULFA-ATF in five Districts of the region.

• November 16: ULFA-ATF called for a 12-hour State shutdown on November 19 to protest the killing of three people in an encounter by Security Forces in Majuli on November 15. ULFA-ATF maintained that all the people killed in the staged gun-battle were civilians.

• November 15: A suspected ULFA-ATF militant along with two civilians, were killed and two civilians critically injured in an encounter against ULFA-ATF militants in Majuli Island in Jorhat District.

• November 14:UMHA has ordered the continuation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in the state and retained the 'Disturbed Area' tag for another year. The UMHA said Paresh Baruah is one of the primary reasons for renewal of the 'Disturbed area' tag, which had expired on November 3. The other reason given by UMHA to justify the renewal is the KPLT, which operates in the Sixth Schedule tribal hill District of Karbi Anglong.

  IGP, L.R. Bishnoi said SFs have been put on alert after they received intelligence inputs about Anti-Talks faction of ULFA-ATF's plan to target SFs in the run up to its "Protest Day" on November 28.

• November 10: SFs recently arrested two ULFA-ATF linkmen from Pengeree under Pengaree Police Station in Tinsukia District.The duo was identified as Hunkan Baruah (24) and Rajiv Dwara (22). SFs recovered a country-made rifle from the duo.

• November 4: ULFA-ATF denied its alleged involvement in a spate of recent incidents in which several business houses of upper Assam claimed to have received extortion notes from the outfit. In an email to the media, publicity department member of ULFA-ATF, Aranya Asom said that the outfit's name and fake letter pads were being misused by "bad elements" to demand money from businessmen and commercial establishments.

• November 3: SFs arrested one militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as 'Sergeant' Shiva Chutia alias Biplab Rajkhowa, at Lahing Noihiporia village under Teok Police Station in Jorhat District of Assam. Further, SFs arrested a ULFA-ATF linkman, identified as Rajesh Agarwal, from the same area.

• October 31: BSF arrested a Bangladeshi ULFA linkman, identified as Allauddin, in South Garo Hills District while he was trying to infiltrate into India.

  State's Water Resource Minister Rajib Lochan Pegu dismissed reports of paying protection money to ULFA-ATF. In a statement, Lochan Pegu denied having making any comment on paying extortion or protection money to any militant outfit, including the ULFA-ATF.

• October 29: ULFA-ATF has increased their extortion bids in Majuli River Island in Jorhat District. Water Resources Minister Rajiv Lochan Pegu, who represents Majuli Assembly constituency, disclosed this to the newspaper. Pegu further said that according to information available, ULFA-ATF managed to set up base in Ahatguri area of Majuli and one militant Pradeep Baruah is masterminding the actions of the ULFA-ATF in the area.

• October 28: A Police informer, Papuna Prasad Thakuria, was killed and OIC of Moran Police Station, Utpal Bora, was injured during an encounter between SFs and ULFA-ATF militants at Nazirapuriya village near Khowang town in Dibrugarh District. Thakuria was a surrendered ULFA militant.

• October 27: SFs arrested a suspected ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Nitul Das, from Chabua in Tinsukia District. A pistol was recovered from him.

• October 26: SFs arrested two ULFA-ATF militants at Thorko under Lakhipur Police Station in Goalpara District. The arrested militants were identified as 'sergeant' Gopesh Hajong (35) and Durlabha Hajong (30).SFs recovered five Chinese grenades, one pistol and 20 rounds of AK-47 rifle from them.

  SFs arrested a militant belonging to ULFA-ATF identified as Upakul Moran from Longvi village in Changlang District. SFs recovered a China-made AK-series rifle, three magazines and 67 rounds of ammunition.

• October 16: Bangladesh has expressed its willingness to hand over the ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia without waiting for extradition treaty. At the 13th Home Secretary-level talks that concluded in Dhaka on October 16, Bangladesh formally conveyed that Chetia may be handed over soon under the existing SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance. The only hurdle was a case pending in a court but it has been assured that it would not stand in the way, said an official who took part in the discussion.

  SFs arrested a linkman, identified as Bijoy Doley, belonging to ULFA-ATF from Majuli in Jorhat District. Doley is the president of Ahataguri gaon panchayat and allegedly had links with ULFA-ATF militant Rajib Das. Doley reportedly assisted the latter in extorting contractors, executives, politicians and farmers on the island.

• October 15: A security source disclosed that the Government had intelligence inputs about the ULFA-ATF acquiring sophisticated arms and devices to strike terror in the State in order to make its presence felt. It is suspected that a group of well-armed ULFA-ATF cadres has already sneaked into the State probably from the outfit's Myanmar base to carry out subversions during the coming festive season for the purpose of striking terror as well as to terrorise those who have defied the outfit's demands for money.

• October 13: Security Forces arrested a youth in connection with the bomb explosion that took place in front of Laxmi Cinema hall in Sivasagar town on September 24, from Guwahati.

  Cooperation in combating terror, repatriation of ULFA 'General secretary' Anup Chetia and early conclusion of an extradition treaty will top the agenda at the two-day India-Bangladesh Home Secretary-level talks in Dhaka from October 15.

• October 11: The Security Agencies are apprehensive that the militant groups of the North East may try to re-establish bases in Bangladesh if a Government, which is not very friendly to India, assumes office after 2013 elections in that country.Highly placed security sources told the newspaper that despite crackdown launched by the Sheikh Hasina Government, some militant groups of the North East still have their bases in that country, but most of the bases are in Bangladesh-Myanmar areas.

• October 10: SFs exchanged fire for two hours with militants of ULFA-ATF at Lakiligaon along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Sources said 10 militants taking shelter in a house opened fire at SF personnel.

  A Myanmar-trained ULFA-ATF militant surrendered to SFs in Dibrugarh. The militant was identified as 'sergeant major' Ramen Konwar alias Partho Gogoi.

  BJP national general secretary, Tapir Gao clarified that the party's Shahid Shradhanjali yatra scheduled from October 18 is not aimed at provoking China but meant to pay homage to the martyrs of the 1962 Chinese aggression. Gao's reaction was a response to ULFA-ATF' vice chairman' Paresh Baruah's recent emailed statement asking the people of Assam not to participate in the said yatra, as it could provoke China to wage a war on India.

• October 6: ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia, currently lodged in a jail in Bangladesh, is likely to be handed over to India by the end of 2012. This indication was given by Dhaka saying the procedure to repatriate Chetia was underway, a senior Government official told PTI. The issue is likely to be discussed at the three-day India-Bangladesh Home Secretary-level talks beginning in Dhaka on October 14.

• October 5: SFs have recovered a Chinese-made sophisticated weapon from an alleged militant of the banned outfit ULFA who was killed in an encounter on October 4 in Tinsukia District of Assam. Officials said this substantiated their claim that Paresh Baruah, the head of ULFA's anti-talk faction, who is absconding, is getting help in procuring arms and ammunition from China.

• October 4: SFs killed a ULFA-ATF militant at Tarani Reserve Forest under Pengaree Police Station in Tinsukia District.

  Illegal immigration and resurgence of northeast India militant groups in Bangladesh will feature at the Home Secretary-level talks in Dhaka. The Home secretary level talks will start from October 15.Union home secretary R.K. Singh, who officials said is likely to be in Dhaka around October 15, is also likely to take up the issue of deportation of ULFA 'general Secretary' Anup Chetia during his visit.

• September 29: SFs killed a militant belonging to ULFA-ATF at Bordumsa in Tinsukia District. The encounter took place when a group of militants hurled a grenade on patrolling troopers.

• September 28: A group of ULFA-ATF under the 'Deputy Commander-in-chief (c-in-c)' Dristi Rajkhowa alias Manoj Rabha is trying to sneak into Guwahati city with explosives, said intelligence sources. The group of around 17 cadres, including some IED experts, is believed to be hiding in jungles of Garo Hills in Meghalaya bordering Kamrup District.

• September 26: Bangladeshi Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir said a process to hand over detained ULFA leader Anup Chetia to India was underway.

  SFs arrested a ULFA linkman, identified as Prakash Mondal (33), of Chagolia II village under Golakganj Police Station of Dhubri District.SFs recovered a country made weapon, some explosives, two improvised crude bombs and one mobile phone with two SIM cards.

• September 25: SFs arrested three suspected ULFA militants from Kaithalkuchi area in Nalbari District.

• September 24: ULFA-ATF militants exploded a bomb in Sivasagar town killing one person on the spot and injuring eight others. The deceased was identified as Nirup Das (30). The condition of three injured persons are said to be critical.

  ULFA-ATF is suspected behind the murder of Manoj Konwar (30), Manab Adhikar Sangram Samity (MASS) activist, a resident of Lukhurakhan Gorukhowa village under Tingalibam Police Station. SFs had recovered the bullet-ridden body of Konwar on September 23.ULFA-ATF had blamed Sivasagar SP Akhilesh Kumar Singh for the killing.

• September 23: SFs and ULFA-ATF militants were engaged in an encounter at Ratanipathar in Tinsukia District. Later, the militants fled into Arunachal Pradesh. No casualties were however reported.

  September 22: The ULFA-ATF is trying to promote a new militant outfit in Arunachal Pradesh for its own benefits. Highly placed Security sources told the newspaper that a new militant outfit named as UPDF backed by ULFA-ATF has cropped up in Arunachal Pradesh.

  The ULFA-ATF has warned the Yuva Morcha (Youth Wing) of the BJP from protesting against China on the 50th anniversary of the Sino-Indian War in the month of October. ULFA-ATF also asked senior BJP leaders like Nitin Gadkari and L K Advani not to take any step that could increase tension between Assam and China.

• September 21: Union Government has alerted Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on the resurgence of anti-talks faction of ULFA-ATF and Ranjan Daimari faction of NDFB-RD, taking advantage of the security gap created by the recent ethnic violence in Assam.

• September 19: Increased activity of ULFA-ATF militants from camps located at Manabhum and Kharsang area in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang District has become a major headache for the SFs. It is reported that ULFA-ATF had recently set up several camps in the two areas bordering Tinsukia District with help of NSCN-K.

  Bangladeshi Security Forces have launched an intensive operation to track down ULFA-ATF leader Drishti Rajkhowa from their territory. Rajkhowa alias Mohan Rabha allegedly operates in lower Assam and reportedly has links with the Meghalaya-based GNLA. In April, 2012, the GNLA and RVA reportedly reinforced the ULFA. It is suspected that the RVA was floated by ULFA to get logistics support in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts (Assam). The GNLA, meanwhile, would provide support in Garo hills (Meghalaya).

• September 18: Bangladeshi Security Forces have launched an intensive operation to track down Anti-talk-faction of ULFA-ATF leader Drishti Rajkhowa from their territory.

• September 16: Paresh Baruah-led ULFA faction urged the people of Assam to continue with their agitation against illegal migrants in the State to protect the interest of indigenous people.

• September 15: The Manipur based PLA has given bomb assembling and handling training to the cadres belonging to Assam based ULFA-ATF led by Paresh Baruah, with an aim to strengthen the outfit's military power after its former 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and his faction parted ways to hold peace talks with the Centre.

• September 14: A businessman was robbed of INR 2 million and shot dead by three persons, including a surrendered ULFA militant and a RPF trooper, in broad daylight at Nalbari town.

• September 13: ULFA-ATF's flow of funds to the members of the outfit has come down, the outfit reportedly managed to send a few major consignments of money to the leaders of the outfit in Myanmar in the last couple of months. Further, both the eastern and western commands of (ULFA-ATF) are trying to indulge in acts of violence in Guwahati city to attract maximum possible publicity. The lower Assam group is headed by Drishti Rajkhowa and the western sector commanded by Bijoy Das.

  The BSF and Bangladesh, BGB have shifted focus on Sherpur in the neighbouring country to neutralize the GNLA and ULFA cadres who are holing up in the area.

  ULFA linkman identified as Karimul Islam was arrested from Kalanchipara village of Howrarpar gaon panchayat under Dhubri police station.

• September 12: A 40-year-old man identified as Dhaneswar Boro injured in the grenade blast in Bongaigaon town in the evening of September 11, died at a private nursing home in the night. Boro and four others were injured when the grenade lobbed by ULFA rebels exploded.

  One of the ULFA militants identified as Manoj Rabha alias Monibantha Asom was arrested at Mahavirstan as security was beefed up following the blast.

  One ULFA militant was killed and another injured in an encounter with the Army at Insushi village, Nangtao under Namsai circle in Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh in the afternoon.

• September 10: SFs killed a ULFA-ATF militant, in an encounter, in Khardang area of Goalpara District.

  State Police have intensified security arrangements after receiving intelligence inputs about ULFA-ATF might try to attack Police and SFs in the State.

  ULFA-ATF dined any collusion with fundamentalist forces and further stated that it is not using hired criminals to carry out subversions in the State as claimed by Police.

  SFs have two - ULFA-ATF militants at Lohit District in Arunachal Pradesh during separate operations.

  SFs arrested a ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Rongmon Gogoi, from Wingseng Nongtaw Village under Namsai circle in Lohit district last night. A grenade and explosives weighing three kilogram were recovered from his possession.

  SFs arrested an ULFA-ATF linkman Indrajit Maran from the area and recovered an IED from his residence.

• September 9: ULFA-ATF claimed responsibility for the Guwahati blast and an earlier blast in Doomdooma on September 6, which left twelve people, injured, including a Policeman and a homeguard.

• September 8: A Chinese grenade explosion on September 8 resulted in the death of a CRPF trooper, Bhabani Singh, and injury to 13 others, including three CRPF personnel, at Paltan Bazar in Guwahati.

• September 6: A grenade blast by suspected ULFA-ATF left 14 persons including three Police personal were injured in Doomdooma town of Tinsukia District.

  United Front formed by northeastern militants in Myanmar and resurgence of their activities in Bangladesh was on the agenda of a three-day annual DGP Conference that began in New Delhi.

• September 5: ULFA-ATF has asked Arabinda Rajkhowa, 'chairperson' of ULFA-PTF, to join the non-violent movement for implementation of the Assam Accord. ULFA-ATF said that the key to the solution that Rajkhowa is seeking from the ongoing peace talks with the Central Government lies in total implementation of the Assam Accord.

• September 2: Pub Mandal (East Zone) of ULFA-PTF joined the campaign against illegal migrants in the State and threatened to take up arms again for the cause. ULFA-PTF further warned AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal to keep away from igniting communal tension in the state and "banned" him and AAMSU members from entering Tinsukia District until they desisted from igniting communal feelings and violence in the State.

  "very credible" intelligence inputs indicate that substantial amounts of money was paid to then ULFA in order to persuade the outfit to withdraw the ban on the National Games held in Guwahati. RN Ravi, a retired Special Director of the IB, made this disclosure.

• September 1: ULFA-ATF in an email claimed responsibility for the fire, saying the outfit had caused a blast in the oil well located in Chandmari village of Tinsukia District. Investigations said that the fire broke out due to an attempt to steal oil from the well.

• August 31: SFs arrested a militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as Mithun Rabha alias Rocky (21), at Rajadwar from North Guwahati.

• August 30: SFs on arrested three ULFA-ATF linkmen - Bhuvan Dahotia of Maithang, Dipanjit Sonowal of Saru Maithang and Biju Sonowal from Maithang - from Kakopathar Dirak Saru Maithan in Tinsukia District.

• August 29: SFs arrested one ULFA linkman, named Biju Baruah alias Raju Rajkhowa, along with a cash of INR 50,000 and a mobile phone from Kakopathar Bazaar in Tinsukia District when he had gone to collect extortion money from a person at Kakopathar Government Hospital.

• August 28: M. Ramachandran, MoS for Home Affairs, said in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) that ULFA-ATF was consolidating organizationally and strengthening its military capability for carrying out violence in the State. He said ULFA-ATF wants to maintain its dominance and create fear psychosis to facilitate extortion. The State Government has been advised to alert security forces to control the activities of ULFA-ATF, Ramachandran said.

• August 26: ULFA-ATF leader Paresh Baruah, in an emailed statement to newspapers, warned of attacks on people from other states living in Assam if the attacks on Assamese people did not halt in other parts of the country. Paresh Baruah said that 14 Assamese youth have been killed in different places outside the State. Baruah also warned Muslim groups against spreading communal hatred in the state and alleged that Congress and BJP are playing their own games keeping in view the coming parliamentary elections in 2014.

• August 25: ULFA-ATF demanded a ransom of INR 3 million from Debabrata Saikia, MLA of Nazira constituency in Sivasagar District. ULFA-ATF threatened to kill him if the amount was not paid.

• August 23: Three unidentified militants abducted Tinku Bajaj, owner of Kasamari tea garden, at Kasamari area near Demow in Sivasagar District. "We suspect ULFA is involved in the abduction. At the same time, Maoists involvement cannot also be denied," said the Police.

• August 22: SFs arrested two ULFA-PTF members from Gorchuk in Guwahati city in connection with the murder of Binit Jain and Suresh Patel, who were killed by ULFA-PTF leader Hira Sarania and his group. The duo was identified as Anjan Barman of Nalbari and Ajonto Kalita of Sualkuchi (Kamrup).

  ULFA-ATF militant, Hiteswar Dihingia alias Guli, surrendered before the Superintendent of Police, Arabinda Kalita in Dibrugarh District.

  ULFA-PTF, in an email statement, announced that the outfit has decided to suspend Hira Sarania from ULFA until the investigation concludes.

• August 21: SFs recovered one AK-56 rifle, 30 rounds of live ammunition and INR 1.2 million in cash, from arrested ULFA-PTF leader Hira Sarania's residence at Helosa in Nalbari District. Sarania was arrested a day earlier.

• August 20: Police arrested 'commander' of 709 battalion of ULFA-PTF, Hira Sarania, on charges of extortion and abduction. According to Police sources, a team of city Police arrested the ULFA leader from the designated camp at Helacha in Nalbari District. Police sources claimed that the ULFA-PTF leader was reportedly involved in the abduction and extortion from a businessperson, Ranjan Lohia of Guwahati city. The SFs had first arrested one Pankaj Kalita from the camp three days ago. SFs have also arrested two youths Pradip Chaudhury and Charafroj Ali from Nalbari and Baksa Districts. Both are said to be very close to Sarania. The Police said that the Sarania is also involved in the killing of Binit Jain, an employee of Lohia.

• August 19: SFs arrested a ULFA-ATF linkmen from Jagoon. The arrested linkman were identified as- 'advocate' Amar Shah, Munu Kaul, Rajen Karmakar and Atul were on their way to hand over money and materials to ULFA-ATF leader Haren Moran at Kharsang in Arunachal Pradesh. SFs recovered an amount of INR 1.2 million in cash, medicine, mobile handsets and camp building materials from them.

• August 17: The ULFA-ATF blamed "infighting" within the ruling Congress party in Assam for the violence between Bodos and muslims and said people in BTAD area are being made "political scapegoat" for the sake of individual political ambitions of leaders. In an email to media, ULFA 'Commander-in-Chief' Paresh Baruah said that "power struggle between Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and one of his cabinet colleagues has led to the present situation."

• August 16: ULFA-PTF has extended support to the Bodos in their "fight against infiltrators." He said that the illegal migrants from Bangladesh are out to establish their supremacy in Assam's territory in order to play a decisive role in the politics, economy and social life of the State.

  The ULFA-PTF raised alarm against the vested forces working on behalf of illegal migrants swarming Assam with an attempt to expand their influence in political, social and economic spheres in Assam.

  Mrinal Hazarika warned the Government on the recent exodus of people from northeast from other parts of the country, by saying that the Government will be held responsible for similar attacks in Assam, if the Assamese people continue to be assaulted outside.

  Senior leader of the ULFA-PTF, Jiten Dutta, based in Tinsukia said that if the attacks on the people from Assam in various states of the country were not stopped immediately, the group would force all companies and firms of those states, operating in Assam, to shut down.

• August 13: SFs recovered a new explosive detonating device used by the ULFA-ATF. They also recovered two bombs with mobile activated unit device connection in Chanok Gaon in Majuli river-island. Later, an Army bomb disposal team defused the two bombs attached to two mobile phones.

  AAASA staged a protest in front of Mathurapur Police Station against the killing of a village Defence guard of Adivasi Community and shouted slogans against ULFA-ATF and Paresh Barua. Suspected ULFA-ATF militants had killed Adivasi Village Defence naik, Michael Purti, on August 9.

• August 11: SFs recovered one powerful IED, suspected to be planted by ULFA-ATF, from Bakupukhuri area at Charaideo in Sivasagar District.

  Major militant formations operating in the Northeast called for a general strike on August 15 to boycott Independence Day celebration. However, during the strike, essential services, emergency measures, media and religious activities will be exempted. The militant formations that has called for a general strike, include CorCom of seven rebel organizations HNLC, KLO, NDFB, NLFT and ULFA-ATF.

• August 10: ULFA-ATF has stated that it will strive to involve the UN by using international instruments to restore 'sovereignty' of Assam from the clutches of the 'colonial occupation of India'. The newly-appointed full-fledged 'chairman' of the ULFA-ATF, Dr Abhizeet Asom , e-mailed a statement here saying that 'ULFA will continue to strive to involve the United Nations by using international instruments which have been successfully used in similar circumstances in restoring the sovereignty wrongfully taken away from Assamese by colonial powers.'

• August 9: When SFs from Mathurapur arrived in the Lengribor area, to recover the body of Michael, a powerful IED exploded, which was planted at an electric post. Sivasagar SP, Akhilesh Kumar Singh on August 8 had informed the media that a group of 20 ULFA-ATF cadres equipped with sophisticated weapons, under the leadership of 'lieutenant' Rupantar Kakoti had managed to sneak into Sivasagar district.

  CRPF personnel on three vehicles had made a narrow escape after an IED went off at Khardang along the Assam-Meghalaya border in Goalpara District. The police have suspected the involvement of one Mohit Rabha, a cadre from the ULFA-ATF.

• August 8: ULFA-ATF has removed Arabinda Rajkhowa from the post of 'chairman'. In an email sent to media houses, Arunudoy Asom, 'assistant secretary for information and publicity' of ULFA-ATF, informed, "We had given a three-month ultimatum to chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to return to his post and meet the goals of the outfit. The time set for his return expired on July 29. Dr Abhijit Asom, who had been discharging his duties as chairman of the outfit since November 6, 2011, will be the official chairman of the outfit from today."

  ULFA-PTF has, however, refused to accept this decision. Mithinga Daimary in this regard said, "This decision is one-sided and we refuse to accept it."

• Three armed ULFA-ATF militants abducted and killed a 'village defence party naik', identified as Michael Purti, from no. 5 Bakupukhuri village in Sivasagar District. ULFA-ATF suspected the deceased to be a police informer.

• August 6: SFs arrested two ULFA militants at Mushalpur in Baksa District, reports The Sentinel. The militants were identified as Arup Deka and Sanjay Thakuria. SFs recovered two nine mm pistols, two magazines, one life cartridge and a bike from the duo.

• August 5: SFs killed two militants belonging to ULFA-ATF in Goalpara District. Police further added that another ULFA-ATF militant has sustained bullet injuries and might have tried to abscond to neighbouring Garo Hills in Meghalaya where ULFA-ATF reportedly share bases with the GNLA. The injured militant is suspected to be Saurav Gogoi, a top ULFA-ATF cadre who is an IED expert and have been sent to Lower Assam to carry out a series of attacks ahead of Independence Day.

  Police claimed to have identified three cadres of ULFA-ATF who carried out the attack on an army convoy in Goalpara District on July 31. According to a police source, investigations into the incident have revealed that ULFA-ATF militant, Saurav Gogoi, who is a native of Tinsukia District, was the prime supect who carried out the blast with the help of two cadres of the outfit, Ratul Rabha and Manish Rabha.

• August 3:ULFA-ATF has stepped up their extortions in the three Upper Assam Districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar, besides carrying out disruptive activities to create a sense of panic among the people of the area.

  State has been put on a general security alert in view of the threat by the ULFA-ATF to engage in subversive activities in the run-up to Independence Day celebrations.

• August 1: SFs arrested four ULFA-ATF linkmen in connection with the IED blast that took place at Hadlapara-Bamunghopa in Goalpara District on July 31 killing one Army personnel and injuring six others. SFs arrested the linkmen from Khardang village under Krishnai Police Station in the District.They were working under the command of ULFA-ATF leader Dristi Rajkhowa.

• July 31: An Army trooper was killed and six others were seriously injured in an IED blast at Bamungopa, just one-and-a-half kilometres from the Naranarayan Setu Bridge in Jogighopa under Agia Police Station in Goalpara District. In a statement claiming responsibility, Arunudoy Asom, spokesperson of ULFA-ATF claimed three SF personnel were killed and nine others were seriously hurt in the attack carried out by the outfit.

• July 28: The process for sending one top ULFA-PTF leader to Dhaka to meet Anup Chetia, ULFA 'general secretary' who is in jail there, is in full swing. The ULFA-PTF, led by 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa will send sufficient documents to Government of India to prepare the passport for Chetia. However, the name of the ULFA-PTF leader heading the mission is yet to be disclosed.

• July 27: SFs arrested two ULFA-ATF militants from Molandubi area under Krishnai Police Station in Goalpara District. The duo has been identified as Nabadeep Gogoi (23) and Ramen Bhumiz (20). SFs claimed that they have recovered explosive device from the cadres.

  The 'Commander-in-Chief' of ULFA-PTF Raju Baruah, while attending the 20th Martyrs' Day of ULFA at Halodhibaari designated camp in Nalbari District, said, "Commander-in-Chief' [Paresh Baruah] of ULFA is not a vital person for the ongoing peace talk process." Raju Baruah further said that there is only a small group of cadres in the ULFA-ATF and they would join in the ULFA-PTF soon.

  ULFA-PTF unit of South Assam comprising Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Dima Hasao Districts attended by a sizeable number of cadres observed its martyrs day at its temporary camp at Haticherra in Cachar District. The 'prominent figures' of ULFA-PTF attending martyr's day were Manil Rajbongshi, Aftab Uddin Laskar and Ramosena Charai.

• July 26: ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Mukti Moran, surrendered at the 5th JKLI army camp at Paltan Bazar in Dibrugarh city. Moran also deposited a US-made carbine with a magazine and six rounds of ammunition.

  SFs arrested two ULFA-ATF linkmen in possession of Foreign Indian Currency Notes worth USD 1 million at Namrup in Dibrugarh District.

• July 25: ULFA-ATF leader, Mrinal Hazarika, said that groups like MULTA and Pakistan's ISI might be involved in triggering the clashes in the BTC area. Further, Hazarika backed BTC 'chairman' Hagrama Mohilary's claim that anti-India forces from the neighbouring country (without naming Bangladesh) were responsible for the violence. However, State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has denied the allegation leveled by BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary that the ongoing ethnic violence in the BTAD was orchestrated by the Bangladeshi nationals. UMHA team visiting the State has ruled out the involvement of Maoists or Bangladesh-based groups in the ethnic violence in the State and had asked the State Government to immediately arrest the people who are instigating the mobs.

• July 24: ULFA-ATF is trying to carry out acts of sabotage in Upper Assam Districts at important Government establishments on the eve of its martyrs' day on July 27 and in the run-up to Independence Day (August 15). The report states that a group of about six ULFA-ATF militants, under the leadership of Babul Gogoi and Rohendra Moran, alias Guli, were staying at the NSCN-K camp at Kharseng in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh, and directing ULFA-ATF militants to trigger blasts by themselves or by hiring youths. Rohendra is a former office-bearer of the All Assam Moran Students' Union.

• July 22: ULFA-ATF alleged that the "divisive policies" of the government has led to clashes between Bodos and minority immigrants in Kokrajhar District.

• July 20: ULFA militant, Phatik Hatimota alias Pankaj Saikia, an accused in the Sanjoy Ghose murder case, was released from jail after being granted bail. Hatimota is among 11 persons charge sheeted by CBI relating to the abduction and subsequent murder of social worker Sanjay Ghose by ULFA. Ghose was abducted from Majuli in Jorhat District on July 4, 1997. Three more accused in the case, including ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua, are still absconding, while two others, Mani Neog alias Ramen Neog and Kaniya Hazarika, were awarded life sentences on August 7, 2003.

• July 15: SFs arrested an ULFA-ATF militant, Ranjit Gogoi alias Vicky alias Biswajit, from Borkherimia Borbaam village under Namrup Police Station in Dibrugarh District.

  Unidentified armed men abducted a private firm official of a cashew processing firm at Phulbari near Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills District. The account manager of the private firm identified as Tolaram Sharma (78) was going along with three others in a private car to Guwahati when they were stopped by armed men between Phulbari and Tikrikilla. On getting the information of his abduction, Police managed to arrest one person, identified as one Manik, in this connection. The ULFA and the NDFB regularly use the area, where the abduction took place, for movement and seeking shelter. The GNLA also operates in the area.

• July 10: Six militants including four militants belonging to NSCN-K militants, one militant belonging to ULFA and one NDFB militant surrendered at an Assam Rifles base in Joyrampur in Tinsukia District. The militants deposited a 9mm pistol, a .38 revolver, two 7.65 mm pistol and 2.9 kilogram of RDX.

  SFs arrested two ULFA-ATF militants Debojit Gogoi and Satyajit Baruah from Bhangamurghat under Barbaruah Police Station in Dibrugarh District. SFs recovered a grenade from their possession.

  SFs arrested one linkman of the ULFA-ATF, identified as Dhanjit Rabha, at Totolapara from the Baksa District. SFs recovered two magazines and one 9mm pistol in his possession.

• July 9: ULFA-ATF has sent an extortion note of INR five million to Golokganj MLA and Parliamentary Secretary (Environment and Forest) Abu Taher Bepari. The extortion note also states that the MLA has to pay INR two million every year from now onwards.

  ULFA-ATF slammed the State Government and blamed it for attacking KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi in Nalbari District. Akhil Gogoi was attacked on July 6 in Nalbari District when he was surveying flood-affected areas of Purni village in Dharmapur constituency. Police has arrested a Congress worker Tapan Barman for his alleged involvement in the attack.

  DGP J.N. Choudhury while talking stated that Left-wing extremism is increasing in different areas of Assam and about 200 Maoist cadres are working jointly with the ULFA linkmen and other local rebel groups to spread their tentacles in the State. He said the Maoists were targeting the people in the rural areas and brainwashing them. DGP further said that Maoists are running a cell in Guwahati for facilitating transit of their top leaders from other parts of the country to Assam or vice-versa.

• July 8: ULFA cadre was arrested by the BSF from West Garo Hills District while he was trying to enter neighbouring Bangladesh. Three other untrained cadres who were with the arrestee, however, managed to flee. The arrestee has been identified as "sergeant" Ratul Pathai alias Rahul (34). The BSF team recovered INR 800, a mobile phone with a SIM card and a bag from him. During preliminary questioning, Rahul said he was going to Bangladesh to meet ULFA leader Dristi Rajkhowa.

• July 7: SFs arrested a 2008 batch of Myanmar trained militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as Manoranjan Gogoi alias Arup Bora (25) of Bosa gaon of Sadiya in Tinsukia District, at Sitpani in Mahadevpur near Namsai in Lohit District.

• July 5: Some movements of personnel of the Myanmar Army have been noticed in the areas where most of the militant groups of North East have their bases in the neighbouring country recently. However, no operation has yet been launched against the militants. The news report further states that intelligence inputs about attempts by the ULFA-ATF to strike before the Independence Day celebrations and the Police have been alerted to frustrate any such attempt. Sources revealed that the militants, who are now in Assam, have been directed to indulge in acts of violence, but their movements have been curbed due to operations by police and security forces in upper Assam Districts.

  Myanmar has agreed to ask the NSCN-K to reduce strength of the Meitei militants to one-third of their current strength. This could be seen as a move to moderate Myanmar's failure to push out Manipur-based insurgents out of the country. The agreement was reached at a meeting of Union ministry of home affairs officials with a nine-member Myanmar delegation in Kolkata (West Bengal) on June 26 and 27. Another commitment of this decision was made to Indian officials in Myanmar on July 4, the source added.

• July 4: SFs arrested two-suspected ULFA-ATF militants at Potiagaon under Bhugdoi Police Station in Jorhat District. The arrested militants have been identified as Rajat Dutta and Raju Saikia.

  SFs arrested Thomai Bora and his wife Sun Mai Bora of Dahikhur Dolakasaria village on the charge of giving shelter to the ULFA militants. Based on the confession of the ULFA militants arrested, SFs arrested one Khgeswar Pegu of Dhudang Chapori- West of Jorhat.

• July 3: Union Government has categorically stated that the NSCN-K led by S.S. Khaplang, which signed a ceasefire with Myanmar on April 9, is providing shelter to Northeast insurgent outfits. The union representatives and the NSCN-K leadership that met in Kohima discussed several issues, including the one on providing shelter and aiding northeastern outfits, including ULFA, despite being warned by New Delhi against doing so. The chairman of the ceasefire supervisory board, Major General (retd) N. George, said during the meeting that the security forces had tabled clear evidence that NSCN-K still shelter cadres of other outfits. He said there was clear evidence that ULFA camps in Changlang and Tirap Districts of Arunachal Pradesh were aided by the NSCN-K. "There is enough evidence that the NSCN (K) is providing shelter to cadres of other insurgent groups," George said.

• July 1: ULFA-ATF will oppose to the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) 'chairman' Sonia Gandhi to the State on July 2 to take the first hand knowledge of flood situation. However, the ULFA-ATF will not call bandh (General strike) this time taking the immense hardship faced by the flood-affected people.

• June 30: SFs arrested three ULFA-ATF militants, identified as Gokul Lahan, Ganesh Lahan and Dijen Buragohain, from Goalpara District. SFs recovered 10 Kilograms of RDX from the possession of the arrested militants.

• June 29: ULFA-PTF leaders sought a "practical approach" to decide issues anchored in Assamese identity that is the central part of the ULFA's demands during their discussion with Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh. Singh told reporters after the talks that ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa also discussed the possible formation of Legislative Council in Assam that will have representation from the District councils and various communities. ULFA-PTF discussed the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigration. ULFA-PTF also demanded recognition of some communities as Scheduled Tribes. After the talks, ULFA-PTF leadership described Centre's response to the issues and termed the talks "cordial and positive".

  Biswamohan Debbarma, the 'chairman' of NLFT-BM is virtually on the run especially after the arrest of Utpal Debbarma, 'Foreign Secretary' of the outfit and surrender of two top-ranking rebel leaders - Tipu Debbarma alias Titus and Salgora Debbarma. Biswamohan went to Myanmar after arrest of Utpal to have dialogue with ULFA and NSCN-K leaders for allowing him to establish a permanent base there.

• June 28: Peace talks between Arabinda Rajkhowa led ULFA-PTF and UMHA Joint Secretary (North East) Sambhu Singh and Centre's interlocutor PC Halder will take place on June 29.

• June 27: A senior leader of ULFA-PTF, who will be visiting Bangladesh to meet ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia, is likely to be selected after the ensuing rounds of talks with the Centre in Delhi on June 29. Kamal Kachari, a senior member of the ULFA-PTF's 'publicity wing' said, "The Centre is keen to send one senior leader. He will be selected after discussions between Ulfa and the Centre on June 29 in Delhi". The news report further states that ULFA-PTF leaders, including 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, have applied for Indian passport.

• June 25: SFs arrested four ULFA linkmen involved in extortion cases from Ahutuguri area of Majuli Island in Jorhat District. The arrested linkmen were identified as Pinku Dutta, Bijoy Chinta, Ganesh Wati and Khaplu Paresh Pal.

• June 24: SFs arrested a one militant of ULFA-ATF militant at Moran area in Sivasagar District and recovered one pistol, detonators in his possession.

  The movement of ULFA-ATF militants along the Indo-Myanmar border via Tirap and Changlang Districts has come down recently, reports Assam Tribune. The news report assigns deterioration of the weather in the area and inter-factional clash between members of the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K as principal reasons for the lowering of activity in the area (Tirap and Changlang).

• June 21: Police arrested two persons, identified as Bijoy Prashad and Trishuldeep, for their alleged role in demanding money from a business firm in Tinsukia District, posing as ULFA cadres.

• June 20: ULFA-PTF Central and State Government would meet on June 29 for the next round of formal tripartite political dialogue. The agenda for the discussion is yet to be finalized, said 'spokesman' of the ULFA-PTF group, Sasha Choudhury.

• June 18: SFs arrested two militants, Bhaimon Changmai and Diganta Gogoi, of the ULFA-ATF, from their hideout at Milannagar area in Dibrugarh. SFs recovered one grenade and an IED from their possession. The arrested militants confessed during interrogation that they brought the explosive to blow the Gammon India Company office, which is engaged in construction of Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge and to carry out blast at Marwari Patty in Dibrugarh town in order to disrupt law and order situation in the district before the forthcoming Independence Day (August 15).

• June 14: SFs recovered a 4-kilogram IED from the Teok Habigaon area under Charaideo sub-division in Sivasagar District. SFs sources following the recovery said that there was information about the movement of a group of ULFA-ATF militants in the area since the last few days. "The outfit has been serving extortion notices to oil companies, several businessmen and tea garden owners in Upper Assam. A few blasts would create fear among the public and ensure that the persons who have been served with extortion notices pay up," a Police official involved in counter-insurgency operations said.

  Bangladesh envoy to India Tariq Ahmad Karim on June 14 asked India to have patience with Dhaka over the issue of handing over of ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia, who is presently in a Bangladeshi jail. "India and Bangladesh are friendly neighbours and India has been requesting Bangladesh to extradite Anup Chetia like other Indian terrorist, but he (Chetia) has applied for political asylum and that takes legal course of action," Karim said. "India must have patience and definitely our government will act on this issue according to the law of our land," Karim said. However, Karim also said that if Chetia had not applied for political asylum like some of the ULFA leaders, he would have been pushed back to India long before. Karim said, "Bangladesh too is fighting against terrorists. We don't provide shelter knowingly to any terrorists on our soil so we are also acting on the issue."

• June 13: SFs arrested one ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Nabajit Baishya, from a bus at Sipajhar in Darrang District and recovered a Chinese grenade from him. The bus was on its way to Tezpur from Guwahati.

• June 11: SFs arrested a former ULFA militant, Manoj Phukan, from Hahnsora Chetia Gaon in Teok in Jorhat District.

  ULFA-ATF blamed both the State and the Central Government for the controversial 'secret killings' in the State between 1998 and 2001. Earlier on June 9, Tarun Gogoi, while speaking on the issue of 'secret killings', had said that the probe was difficult due to the alleged involvement of the then AGP Government. Further, reacting to Gogoi's statement, AGP president and former chief minister Prafulla Mahanta on June 10 blamed Congress of playing politics in the name of the 'secret killings'

• June 8: Guwahati based special judicial magistrate's court rejected the final report submitted by the CBI in the case of killing of P.C. Ram, former executive director (northeast) of FCI, who allegedly died in crossfire between SFs and ULFA militants on July 17, 2007 after he was abducted by the militant outfit, reports Times of India. The court further directed the CBI to get the case reinvestigated by another efficient official.

• June 6 ULFA and CPI-Maoist have links, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said. When asked about Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram statement at a media conference recently that there was nothing to suggest that ULFA had links with Maoists, Gogoi said, "Let him say that. He has got his own sources; I have my own (sources)". Gogoi said he was aware about Maoist infiltration into Assam and their links with ULFA for a long time. Gogoi also said the Maoists had links with many insurgent groups in the Northeast and Ulfa was just one of them. Gogoi stressed on improving connectivity in the remote areas, especially along the border to counter insurgency.

• June 5: ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa has said the Central Government is keeping the dialogue strictly within the framework of discussion submitted by the ULFA-PTF and described Central Government response as positive.

  Suspected militants belonging to ULFA-ATF handed over a demand note of INR 500,000 to senior officer of the OIL as well as known Assamese writer Phanindra Kumar Dev Choudhury.

• June 4: NIA arrested a director of a private school, Jatiya Vidyalaya identified as Pallab Barbora alias Profull, at Merapani in Golaghat District for his alleged links with Maoists. "Borbora is deeply involved with Maoists. He and Aditya Bora were the initial Maoist members," ADGP-SB Khagen Sarma said. He further said, "After Ulfa's [United Liberation Front of Asom] downfall started, Borbora and Bora both became Maoists." Both Borbora and Aditya Bora were also members of the ASYO, known to be funded by ULFA. The duo severed formal ties with ASYO in 2009 after having differences with the ULFA leadership over the latter targeting Hindi-speaking population.

  In a press statement issued on email, the ULFA-ATF 'publicity in-charge' Arunudoy Asom claimed that Mr.Pallab Barbora was a prominent human rights activist of the State and his arrest was a gross violation of human rights.

• June 3: Though the Government of Bangladesh has launched a crackdown against militants of NE using the territory of the country as safe haven, the recent arrests of militants by personnel of the BSF proved that the militants still have a number of camps and bases in the neighbouring country. Highly placed security sources told that the militant groups, particularly the groups of Manipur, still have camps in the Moulvi Bazar area, while, a number of other outfits including the hardline faction of the ULFA are maintaining camps in the jungles in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border areas. Sources said that the militant groups of North East also have some camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts area.

• June 1: Union Home secretary R.K. Singh said that the ULFA-ATF was small and insignificant, adding that talks with the Arabinda Rajkhowa led group [Pro-Talks faction of ULFA] group were on the right track. On the condition of talks with the ULFA-PTF and a probable date for dialogue in June, Singh said, "We are already in a dialogue with Ulfa. We have had two rounds of talks with them. Our interlocutor P.C. Haldar is doing a follow-up on different details and it is time for me to fix a date for another round at my level."

• May 31: ULFA-ATF militant, Robin alias Hobendra Moran ,who was suspected to have been killed in an encounter with SFs at Lalmati along the border between Sivasagar and Mon (Nagaland) Districts, surfaced at Lengribor Baghpukhuri area under Mathurapur Police Station with bullet injuries. Initially, Robin was admitted to Sivasagar civil hospital, which referred him to the

  AMCH in Dibrugarh. Meanwhile, ULFA-ATF alleged that SFs had taken away INR 2 million from its member Robin Asom, who was injured in the encounter.

• May 30: SFs killed an ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Robin Moran, at Rangamati village under Sonari police station in Sivasagar District. An AK56 rifle, an IED, two grenades, around 75 AK-series ammunitions, one time device and some camp material have also been recovered from him.

  SFs arrested two youths, Ranjan Barman and Mrinal Moran, at Doomdooma in Tinsukia District for extorting INR 200,000 from a nursing home, in the name of ULFA.

  Security has been beefed up in the State following inputs of possible attacks by ULFA-ATF militants on the relatives of Congress ministers and MLA.

• May 29: ULFA-ATF and the Maoists operating in the State are on a collision course with the latter building base on the former's home turf besides serving demand notes on the same section of people and recruiting militants from same communities, reports Times of India. The news report quoted a top security source as saying, "Recent radio intercepts show that Baruah [Paresh Baruah] is not happy with Maoists eating into ULFA's resources, both man and money. He has even ordered his men to take action against Maoists wherever necessary."

  A Police constable was killed and three others were injured in an attack by a group of militants near Gasuapara in South Garo Hills border in the night, Police informed . While Constable Pearson Sangma was killed in the firing, three other Policemen, identified as Gopal Rai, Jopline Kharkongor and Dilip Marak sustained injuries. A Police official said that the four police constables who were patrolling on foot were fired upon from a hillock by a group of militants at around 11:40 pm. Police are yet to ascertain which militant group was involved in the attack. There is presence of both GNLA and ULFA in the bordering areas of Gasuapara where the incident took place. Police have denied rumours that the constables were attacked in a case of mistaken identity by another group of armed constables on duty.

• May 28: SFs neutralised an IED weighing 13 kilograms, suspected to be placed by ULFA-ATF, at a village in Goalpara District.

• May 26: SFs arrested two persons, Palash Saikia (19) and Badan Chutia (48) for their involvement in the May 25 blast at Filobari in Tinsukia District suspected to be carried out by ULFA-ATF. The SP Diganta Gogoi said that a senior ULFA-ATF leader had given the bomb to the Palash and Indrajit Moran (22) and paid INR 300 each to execute the job. Moran died in the blast as the bomb went off before Moran could place it at the intended target.

• May 25: A bomb went off in the evening at Philobari under Doomdooma Police Station in Tinsukia District. The bomb carrier, a young boy, died on the spot. He has not been identified as yet. The blast took place at around 8 pm in front of the shop of Lakhiram Agarwala, who is the brother of Gavarubheti mandal Congress president Mungi Ram Agarwala. Businessmen in Philobari had allegedly been receiving extortion notices from the ULFA-ATF and in protest against this, the Gorkha Students' Union had held a meeting. It is suspected that the unidentified youth was planning to carry out subversive activities in the area.

  Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will arrive in the city on May 26 to attend the first anniversary celebration of the third consecutive term of the Congress government in the state. ULFA militants, meanwhile, have called a bandh on the same day and Police have intelligence inputs of possible attacks by the outfit on Congress offices.

• May 24: The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (PREVENTION) ACT, 1987 (TADA) designated Court in Guwahati acquitted ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa giving him the benefit of the doubt in the Surrendra Paul murder case. Three other accused, Pradip Gogoi, the ULFA 'vice-chairman' who was arrested in Calcutta in 1998, Saurav Gogoi, and the outfit's commander in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, and Jugal Kishore Mahanta, its president in the two Districts, were the three acquitted earlier. The two remaining accused are yet to be cleared of the murder charge are - unsplit ULFA's 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua and 'general secretary' Golap Barua alias Anup Chetia. Suspected ULFA militants killed Surrendra Paul, brother of UK-based businessperson Swaraj Paul, on April 9, 1990, at Laipuli in Tinsukia District. "We do not indulge in criminal activities. Ours is a political movement," Arabinda Rajkhowa following the acquittal said.

  SFs are in a state of high alert to prevent any disruptive attempt made by ULFA-ATF militants on the eve of the visit of INC President Sonia Gandhi to the State on May 26. The news report quoting highly placed security sources states that senior leaders of the ULFA-ATF have issued instructions to the cadres on the ground to target INC offices wherever possible.

• May 23: The body of one Dipankar Rabha was recovered at Landakhunda in Dhanubhanga under Dhupdhara Police Station in Goalpara District on May 23 after he went missing on May 21. Rabha (27) went out from his home on the May 21 afternoon for some business purpose with some of his friend and did not return. But on May 23 his body was found near the road. It may be mentioned here that on May 20, two linkmen of ULFA was arrested by a joint operation of both Goalpara and Guwahati City Police. The local people suspected that Rabha was murdered following the arrest of ULFA linkmen.

• May 22: ULFA-ATF called a 12-hour State bandh on May 26 to protest the scheduled visit of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Guwahati city.

• May 21: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, paying homage to former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi renewed appeal to ULFA-ATF leader Paresh Barua and others to abjure violence and sit across the table to solve their problems through democratic means.

• May 20: SFs recovered powerful explosives stockpiled by the ULFA-ATF in Goalpara District near the state's border with Meghalaya. SFs recovered 3.5 kilograms of plastic explosives, seven detonators; one remote control device and other bomb-making material. SFs also arrested two ULFA-ATF linkmen, identified as Bekingson Marak and Jyoti Charan Boro, in connection with the seizure.

• May 18: ULFA-PTF launched an 'Assam Navnirman Kendra' to promote agriculture and related activities in Nalbari District with the help of Army and the State Government. State Government has provided 100 bighas of land at Banbagh Salmari, which will have nine fishponds, piggery, poultry farm, duck farm and banana plantations.

• May 15: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi welcomed KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi's decision to float a political party in 2015-16 and appealed to ULFA-ATF 'Vice Chairman' Paresh Baruah to launch a political party and win the trust of the people to serve them.

• May 14: 84 remote villages in Kamrup District bordering Meghalaya under the jurisdiction of KVDC have now vowed to resist militant activities in the area, which is frequently used by ULFA and GNLA militants. Community leaders representing 84 Gram Sabhas (Village council) will formally join hands on May 15 in Kinan village to resist insurgent activities including extortion, passage of rebels through their villages and providing shelter to them.

• May 13: A militant belonging to the ULFA-ATF sustained bullet injury during an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) at Tairai Gaon in Sivasagar District along the Assam-Nagaland interstate border. The injured militant however managed to flee from the incident site, disclosed an unnamed senior Police officer. Later, SFs recovered 4-kilogram Tri-Nitro-Toluene (TNT) explosives, 14 detonators, live wires, batteries, 4 mobile phones and a list of code numbers from the encounter spot.

  An encounter between SFs and suspected ULFA militants took place at Tairai Gaon of Sapekhati under Charaideo sub-division in Sivasagar District.

• May 12: The SFs arrested four militants, belonging to ULFA-ATF, from Majuli in Jorhat District. The arrested militants were identified as Nayan Mudoi, Pramod Hazarika, Bapukon Hazarika and Junali Hazarika.

• May 11: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Maoists were spreading their wings and have set up a strong base in the Districts of upper Assam. Gogoi added that the militant groups of the region supported them. "ULFA c-in-c Paresh Baruah's letter to the media yesterday proves this. The NSCN-IM is also imparting training to the Maoist cadres," he said, adding that the training is given in some places outside Assam "by taking advantage of the ceasefire agreement" with the Centre. "We will have to conduct operations not only in Assam but also in neighboring States like Arunachal Pradesh. I am supporting the NCTC because it will help us in this regard," said Gogoi. "Earlier, the Centre had refused to believe us. Now they know that Assam is also affected by the Maoist menace. Given the fast manner in which it is spreading across the Northeast, I need the support of our neighboring States to control the Maoist movement now," the Chief Minister said.

• May 10: DGP Jayanta Narayan Choudhury said that there around 150 people in the State having links with the Maoists and that the Police have identified 21 Police Stations in Maoist-prone areas. Stating that nobody from the State joined the Maoist movement for its ideology, the DGP said most of the new cadres previously used to be linkmen with the banned ULFA. He said, "We will continue to keep strict vigil on these people and we are working in close coordination with the security forces in Arunachal Pradesh."

  State Police is closely coordinating with SFs in neighboring Arunachal Pradesh to contain the Maoist activities in the State. There are reports that the Maoists have set up some bases and training camps in the Manbhum reserve forests in Arunachal Pradesh'.

  Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh on the killing of Maoists in the State said that Maoists were trying to set up a base in Assam and three AK-47s, grenades and lots of ammunition was seized from them. "This encounter would halt their operations in a big way, it is a blow to them", Singh further said.

  ULFA-ATF has strongly condemning the killing of four Maoist rebels in Sadiya in Tinsukia District. In a statement e-mailed to the media, Paresh Baruah said that though the ULFA has ideological difference with the Maoists, it has moral support to the movement of the Maoist groups. As reported earlier, SFs on May 9 killed four Maoists in Sadiya Sub-Division of Tinsukia District while two Maoist rebels managed to flee the scene.

• May 9: SFs arrested a ULFA linkman, identified as Narul Islam (23), from Nalbari District. SFs recovered one 7.65mm factory made pistol, one magazine, one live bullet, three Mobile phones and four SIM cards from him.

• May 7: SFs arrested two ULFA militants, identified as Abdul Rahman alias Jyunti Ali (31) and Wahidul Rahman alias Pappu (24), at Santak under Bihubar Police Station in Sivasagar District. The SFs recovered one 7.65 Italian made pistol, one magazine, ammunition, two mobile phones and three SIM cards from their possession.

  SFs arrested three persons suspected to be ULFA-ATF linkmen from Shantipur in Majuli Island in Jorhat District. The trio has been charged with giving refuge to Dipak Gogoi alias Baba, a leader of ULFA-ATF. Dipak Gogoi, however, managed to escape.

• April 30: UHM P. Chidambaram while referring to the last round of tripartite talks with ULFA-PTF held on April 9 stated that the process would be slow as the leaders of ULFA-PTF are treading very cautiously. Chidambaram said, "The Home Secretary held the talks and he has reported to me that it is making progress but it will be slow progress because there is an anti-talk faction. So the pro-talk leaders are proceeding with great caution". The Central Government and ULFA-PTF leaders have so far held three rounds of formal dialogue and substantive discussions on the charter of demands submitted by the outfit are yet to begin.

  SFs arrested a linkman of the ULFA-ATF, identified as Jintu Dulakakhoria in Tinsukia District for his alleged role in the March 31 bomb blast at the daily market in Doomdooma where three Police personnel were injured. Following revelations made by the militant, the SFs recovered 21 detonators, four grenades, three packets of explosives, one remote control, three electric circuits and six electric conductors, from the compound of the house of Tikheswar Hazarika at Bordumsa in the same District.

• April 29: A group of six ULFA-PTF militants entered the Bihu function in Bongaigaon District and assaulted a boy named Kanuwa Singha (25), Sator Singha (30) and Kalu Singha (35) on the pretext that the boy was consuming alcohol in the function and the other two were running a temporary wine shop in the Bihu function premises.

  SFs recovered a powerful IED weighing five kilograms from Titkuri village in Rangiya in Kamrup (Rural) District.

  The ULFA-ATF gave an ultimatum to ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa to return to "active duty" within three months. ULFA-ATF 'Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary' Arunudoy Asom said that in case of failure to comply with the deadline, the outfit would be forced to change its leadership. ULFA-ATF also accused Arabinda Rajkhowa of compromising with the outfit's ideals.

• April 28: A suspected ULFA-ATF linkman, Bogen Moran, (26), succumbed to his injuries at Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. As reported earlier, Moran was injured during an encounter with SFs on April 21 at Kordoiguri under Doomdooma Police Station in Tinsukia District.

  After building close links with ULFA-ATF, GNLA are developing contacts in the neighbouring Nagaland and procuring sophisticated arms from Naga militant groups, who route the weapons via Guwahati (Assam), making it more difficult for the city Police to intercept them. Intelligence sources confirmed that GNLA is buying lightweight assault rifles and guns as well as ammunition from various agents backed by NSCN.

  Assam Rifles personnel arrested four UPDF cadres, identified Lamlai Chowai alias Babu, Dipankan Chakma alias Pinti, Kina Marak and Arun Chakma, from Manabum area in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. The militants were arrested from Maitri Village under Diyun Police Station, where they had taken shelter in the house of a Chakma widow. The cadres visited the village to serve extortion note to a local businessmen in the area and had forcibly taken shelter in the house.

  Two US made 7.65 mm Pistols, one .22 mm Chinese made Pistol and ammunition were recovered from the militants. UPDF is involved in extortion and kidnapping and other illegal activities in Namsai and adjoining areas. The group is believed to have strong linkages with ULFA and NSCN-K.

• April 27: The designated TADA court acquitted ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and 'Vice-president' Pradip Gogoi along with surrendered ULFA militant Munin Nobis of the murder charge of a Guwahati city based businessperson, Giridharilal Harlalka, on grounds of lack of evidence. Harlalka was killed in 1998 in Fancy Bazar area of Guwahati city by ULFA. ULFA-ATF 'Vice-president' Paresh Baruah and ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia alias Golap Barua are also accused in the case.

• April 26: SFs recovered a powerful IED weighing approximately five kilograms, suspected to have been planted by ULFA-ATF, at Kakojan village under Filobari Police Station in Tinsukia District. Militants had planted the IED in front of the house of Ramesh Prasad, an owner of a small tea garden.

• April 22: ULFA-ATF uploaded videos propagating its cause and a recitation asking ULFA-PTF ‘Chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa to pull out of the peace process on an internet site. The visuals in the two songs show ULFA-ATF leader Paresh Baruah mingling with his cadres in the group's known base in Myanmar. The videos also show the group's armory.

• April 21: Police arrested one of the prime accused, identified as Ajoy Gogoi in the April 19 railway track blast that occurred in Sivasagar District. He is the brother of ULFA militant Akon Gogoi alias Pradip Asom, who provided logistical support to the ULFA militants for carrying the attack. Ajoy was arrested from his native Hauphau village under Sapekhati Police station in Sivasagar District.

  SFs arrested three cadres of ULFA-ATF, identified as Baba Gogoi, Bogen Moran and Babul Baruah, after an encounter near Doomduma in Tinsukia District. Gogoi and Moran sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. SFs recovered a pistol from the trio.

  SFs arrested a suspected ULFA-ATF militant, Purna Lahon, in Sivsagar District for alleged involvement in the bomb blasts on railway tracks in the District on April 19.

• April 20: Normal life was severely affected due to the 12-hour dawn-to- dusk Assam bandh (shutdown strike) called by ULFA-ATF, in protest against the visit of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

• April 19: Suspected ULFA militant, identified as Nijut Dangaria, was arrested by the army from Kakapathar in Tinsukia District.

  Another ULFA cadre, identified as Farooq Islam, was arrested from Laluk Kachordubi under Laluk Police station. About 18 live cartridges along with heavy arms and ammunition were recovered from him. Farooq, who hailed from North Lakhimpur joined the outfit in 2008 and had undergone training in Bangladesh.

• April 19: A powerful grenade blast occurred at a power station at Kalakhuwa under Bhogdoi Police station in Jorhat District in the evening. The ULFA-ATF is suspected to be behind the blast. Police, however, denied this and said that a ‘technical fault’ caused the explosion.

  ULFA-PTF ‘Chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, asserted that the ULFA-PTF was opposed to the bandh (shut down strike) call given by the ULFA-ATF in protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s scheduled day-long visit on April 20. “The Centre has honoured its commitment for talks with the outfit to resolve the long-standing issues and we are opposed to the bandh in protest against the Prime Minister’s visit,” Rajkhowa said. ULFA anti-talk faction has called a 12 hour bandh beginning from 5 am on April 20 in protest against the Prime Minister’s day-long visit to Guwahati.

  Credible information developed over the last few months by field operatives of Central intelligence agencies in the Northeast, Bangladesh and Burma has confirmed that the ULFA-ATF top ‘commander’ Paresh Baruah is now using his terror network to smuggle narcotics into India.

  Baruah and his trusted aides, the report adds, are being helped by two important ISI agents, Khwaja Sultan Malik and Qalil Ahmed, who are operating out of Bangladesh. Both Malik and Ahmed also have close links with drug cartels in Southeast Asia who are smuggling narcotics into India through the porous Indo-Bangladesh border with the ULFA’s help. The report states, “The ULFA is not only helping drug cartels use India as a transit point but also pumping narcotics into the country for local consumption.’’ The report further reveals that the terror outfit is using its formidable network in the Northeast for narcotic smuggling as it has yielded them high returns. The ULFA has been taking both money and arms in return for helping the drug syndicates. “As India is an important transit point in the Golden Triangle of narcotic smuggling, involvement of terror groups in India in this business is an extremely dangerous trend,” adds the report. Baruah, who is now believed to be shuttling between Burma and Bangladesh, saw narcotic smuggling as a quick and easy way to rake in money to fund his terror machinery.

  Sudesh Kumar, Inspector General of the BSF (Meghalya-Assam Frontier) said several militant outfits, including the ULFA-ATF, NDFB and others, used the local population as guides while following elephants that move about freely across the international border. "The locals as well as the militants know that the security forces will not come in the way of the pachyderms and so they take advantage to move in and out of the country using the routes taken by them," Kumar said. "The locals guide the militants by trailing the herds," he added.

• April 17: ULFA-ATF reiterated its call for a bandh (General Shutdown) on April 20 to protest against the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the State.

  State Education and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah said that ULFA issue would be resolved in the near future, but the threat by CPI-Maoist was a matter of concern for the State.

  An attempt by the ULFA-ATF to trigger at least two blasts in Guwahati, ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit on April 20, has been foiled and three militants were arrested, Tinsukia District Police claimed. Police said they arrested three militants, including a woman identified as Paban Das, Jaya Boro and Ganesh Das from the District while they were on their way to Guwahati and recovered two grenades from their possession.

  Tinsukia SP P P Singh said that Paban Das was assigned by the top brass of the ULFA-ATF to bring the grenades to Guwahati and trigger blasts ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. "The three have also confessed that they were being coordinated by Babul Gogoi, a senior leader of ULFA's anti-talk faction," Singh added.

• April 16: The ULFA-ATF has called a State bandh (general shutdown) on April 20, the day Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit Guwahati to attend the State Assembly’s platinum jubilee celebrations and a programme at B Barooah Cancer Institute.

• April 15: SFs raided a house premise at Bura Gaon Jabaka under Sonari Police Station in Sivasagar District used by militants of ULFA-ATF. The owner of the house, Dehiram Arandhara, is being interrogated.

• April 14: A militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as 'lance corporal' Suraj Gogoi alias Anurag Asom (Baruah), surrendered before SFs in Tinsukia.

• April 12: Suspected militants belonging to ULFA-ATF exploded a grenade at remote Bordumsa area in Tinsukia District along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.

  SFs denied ULFA-ATF claim that one SFs personnel was killed in the encounter, which took place on April 8 at Bolbola under Dhupdhara Police Station of Goalpara District.

• April 10: ULFA-ATF has called a dawn-to-dusk Assam bandh (General strike) on April 20 to protest the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the State.

• April 9: ULFA-PTF as well as Government termed the peace talks held as successful. About the issues, which figured in the talks, the Union Home Secretary, R.K.Singh said that the ULFA-PTF team raised issues like "safeguard" to the indigenous people of Assam but a detailed discussion on it and issues like Centre-State relations would be taken up in the next round of dialogue. Also discussed were adherence to ground rules, signed by both sides, surrender of arms and ammunition and a total halt of operations by Security Forces against the ULFA-PTF. The next rounds of talks are likely in May-June this year. Central Government has responded 'positively' to the appeal of the ULFA-PTF for extradition of the ULFA's 'general secretary' Anup Chetia who is now lodged in a jail in Bangladesh.

• April 8: SFs killed a suspected ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Bobit Rabha alias Calendar, at Medhikona under Dhupdhara Police Station of Goalpara District.The militant is suspected to be behind the blast on a Tura-bound BSF convoy on March 31 in the same District.

  ULFA-PTF leaders led by its 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa left for New Delhi to hold the third round of talks with the Central Government on April 9.

• April 5: Two ULFA-ATF militants were arrested in a joint operation by the army and Police from Fakiragram in Kokrajhar District.

  SFs will start focusing on Goalpara District bordering Garo hills Districts of Meghalaya where ULFA-ATF under the leadership of Drishti Rajkhowa and collaboration with GNLA have stepped up their activities.

• April 4: SFs arrested five-suspected extortionist belonging to ULFA-ATF, including a woman, from Sonari town in Sivasagar District. The Police said the five demanded money, over phones, from several government officials, doctors and businessmen using the name of ULFA in the last week. The arrested persons, residents of Sonari area, were identified as Horen Gogoi, Suren Saikia, Ajit Saikia, Boby Saikia and Dilip Raut.

  UMHA warned the Northeast States of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh about probable attacks by ULFA-ATF around April 7. ULFA celebrates its foundation day on April 7.

• April 3: Central Government has given clear indications to ULFA-PTF that it is ready to admit all its demands in principle, which includes constitutional amendments and giving more powers to the State on the lines of Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370 of Indian constitution. The ULFA-PTF leadership, though, remains skeptic about Indian Parliament giving the nod to the desired amendment.

  NIA raided an apartment at the Janakpuri area of New Delhi on the suspicion that ULFA-ATF 'publicity secretary' Arunoday Asom was in that apartment.

  SFs arrested two ULFA-ATF linkmen from the Bokota Nemuguri area of Sivasagar District on charges of extortion.The arrested persons were identified as Bolin Gogoi (33) of Naginimora and Ramen Bhumij (19) of Amguri. SFs maintained that Bolin is close to the outfit's 'sergent major' Raktajit Hazarika. Ramen is suspected to be involved in the grenade explosion at Demow Police Station on March 27.

• April 2: Security Forces in Meghalaya have been put on alert especially in Meghalaya-Assam border ahead of ULFA raising day on April 7, top Police officers said. The alert came in the wake of the report that a top leader of the ULFA-ATF, Dristi Rajkhowa, is currently being holed up in between Goalpara District of Assam and East Garo Hills District of Meghalaya.

  DGP Jayanta Narayan Choudhury said that ULFA-ATF could carry out attack in the State on the run up to its raising day on April 7. He further said, "The bomb that exploded in Doomdooma town in Tinsukia district on Saturday night was inside a tiffin box but the involvement of Maoists in the incident cannot be ruled out". The DGP said that while top ULFA-ATF leader Dristi Rajkhowa was currently holed up in Goalpara District bordering Meghalaya, two militants Babul and Pradeep Gogoi are active in upper Assam.

  Security has been intensified security in all five upper Assam Districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat to prevent any kind of untoward incident by ULFA-ATF.

• April 1: SFs arrested two militants of ULFA-ATF, identified as Abhigyan Bora and Mridul Kumar Phukan, from an unspecified location, in connection with the bomb blast at Doomdooma in Tinsukia District on March 31.

  SFs arrested two more suspected ULFA-ATF militants from Kakopathar in Tinsukia District following the earlier reported encounter in which one suspected ULFA-ATF militant was killed and four others were arrested.

  SFs killed a suspected militant belonging to the ULFA-ATF during an encounter at Kakopathar in Tinsukia District. SFs also arrested four other suspected ULFA-ATF militants following the encounter. However, ULFA-ATF in an emailed statement, said no armed cadre of the outfit was killed in any incident.

  Tinsukia District Administration has suggested a multi-pronged strategy to crack down on illegitimate coal trade especially in Margarita Subdivision, which CPI-Maoist is now reportedly eyeing, besides militant groups like the NSCN and ULFA, to create what is called "slush funds" to carry out subversive activity. The steps include deployment of CISF and AISF to safeguard CIL properties. Besides setting up of a composite verification point at Jagun, this will have staff from Police, sales tax, forest, and excise and transport department besides CIL.

  ULFA-ATF has denounced anti-China protests by Tibetan refugees (on march 10) in the State and urged the people of the State not to allow such anti-China activities, as there was need for a powerful friend like China for the ULFA to lead the struggle of the people to a just conclusion.

• March 31: A five-member militant group belonging to the ULFA-ATF opened fire on an Assam Rifles patrol party at Takubasti under Charaideo Police Station in Sivasagar District. A hardcore ULFA-ATF militant was believed to have sustained serious injury during the encounter. Meanwhile, ULFA-ATF claimed that three Assam Rifles troopers were killed and one trooper was in the incident.

  Three SF personnel received minor injuries and two grocery shops and a godown were badly damaged in a bomb blast triggered by suspected ULFA-ATF militants at Doomdooma daily market in Tinsukia District.

• March 30: Suspected militants of ULFA-ATF hurled a grenade targeting the convoy of vehicles carrying BSF personnel at Dudhnoi in Goalpara District. However, no casualty was reported.

  SFs recovered an unexploded grenade from the premises of Mathuranagar Police Station in Sivasagar District. suspected ULFA-ATF militants had hurled the grenade on March 29.

• March 28: ULFA-ATF claimed responsibility for the grenade attack at Dimow Police Station in Sivasagar District on March 27.

  ULFA-ATF has served an extortion notice on the FCI office in North Lakhimpur District. The extortion demand was made over phone earlier this week.

• March 27: ULFA-ATF militants hurled a grenade at Dimow Police Station in Sivasagar District. A wall of the Police Station was partially damaged, though no casualty was reported.

  Militant outfits of the State are suspected to have been using women and anti-social elements to carry out extortion and abductions by outsourcing responsibility of picking up the target and serving the demand notes. The news report states that ULFA and NDFB were using its women cadres to trap businessmen for kidnapping. Security sources said that at least four-five such cases of women inviting the businessmen to some isolated locations before kidnapping has already come to light.

• March 25: SFs arrested two militants of NDFB-RD, identified as Sonen Basumatary and Biswijit Narzary, Kachugaon village in Gossaigaon Sub-Division of Kokrajhar District.

  Central Government and ULFA-PTF will be held in New Delhi on April 9.

  ULFA-ATF has now started using satellite phones marketed by ACeS, an Indonesia based company and according to inputs available, ULFA-ATF now has at least 10 such phones.

• March 24: North East militant outfits have changed their routes to bring in weapons and explosives to the North East region after the improvement of relation between India and Bangladesh. Sources told the media that the militant groups have stopped bringing in weapons through Bangladesh and most of the weapons are now brought into the region through Myanmar where most of the militant groups of the region have their strong bases. The weapons are brought through different routes along the India-Myanmar border and though Mizoram is now one of the most peaceful states.

  The militant groups of the region including the ULFA-ATF now have abundance of weapons including sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, etc. and most of the weapons are manufactured in China.

• March 23: Security across the State is being beefed up keeping in view April 7 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits the State, which also happens to be the Raising Day for ULFA.

  State Police is keeping a close watch on select group of advocates, journalists, businesspersons, politicians and college lecturers for their alleged link with ULFA-ATF leader Paresh Baruah. Three others, including a student leader, have been sent to jail in this regard. This came after monitoring the calls of eight ULFA-ATF phone numbers, three are satellite phones and rest mobiles.

  The Indian Journalist Union condemned the 'quit notice' issued by ULFA-ATF against owner of a private TV channel.

• March 22: ULFA-ATF served a quit notice to the owner of a leading private Assamese news channel, Santosh Jaiswal, and his family for allegedly trying to paint a negative picture about the outfit. Jaiswal owns a channel by the name of DY365.

• March 21: ULFA-ATF clarified that the extortion notice to St Luke Hospital was meant for the chairperson of the hospital, N Stephen Nag, who is also a 'tea planter' besides being a missionary.

• March 17: ULFA-ATF warned of attack on mobile phone towers in the State in protest against what it termed as, 'Indian security forces attempt to prevent the leaders and cadres of the ULFA to keep contacts with people in Assam's society in the capacity of an organization having base among the masses.

  UC of SFs in the State has decided to launch joint operations with its counterpart in Meghalaya to contain the activities of ULFA-ATF in western part of the State, where a sizeable amount of development fund is alleged to have been going into the coffers of militant outfits. UC also decided to launch operations against KPLT in Karbi Anglong District. The report further adds that a batch of newly-trained 60 KPLT militants have completed their training in a NSCN-K camp near Dimapur in Nagaland and may join the outfit soon.

  ULFA-ATF leader Drishti Rajkhowa is planning abductions, extortions and other acts of terrorism in collaboration with GNLA.

• March 16: A Sivasagar court sent Mahendra Chetia from Dulakharia village in Sivasagar District to judicial custody. SFs on March 15 had arrested Chetia on charges of providing shelter to militants of the ULFA-ATF.

  SFs arrested a bomb expert belonging to the Anti-Talks faction of ULFA-ATF, identified as Tapan Phukan alias Bhabani Khaklary, from Solmari village in North Lakhimpur District. Phukan was trained in Myanmar said the report.

• March 14: Union Home Ministry sounded a high alert and asked the State government to tighten security in view of ULFA's 'army day' on March 16.

  SFs rescued Dr M C Agarwala from a house at Naharbari near Dhamdhama in Nalbari District. Police sources said one of the arrested is affiliated to ULFA-PTF.

  SFs arrested three extortionists associated with ULFA in Kiranigaon (Kadoguri) in Tinsukia District. They were identified as identified as Aurobindo Moran (32) Lileshwar Moran (27) and Bitupon Moran (23).

• March 13: ULFA-ATF has recently demanded St. Luke's Hospital at Chabua in Dibrugarh District to pay INR 2 million. The report further adds that people from 20 neighboring villages are angry at the ULFA's extortion bid from the Hospital.

• March 9: SFs arrested four top militant belonging to GNLA, identified as Tengrile Sangma, Teran Sangma, Mukhar G Areng and Paul Ektaus Momin, from kiling area. SP Apurba Jibon Baruah verified that GNLA was behind the abduction of one Dinesh Sarma of Beltola, from a coal depot in Pllingkata on March 2.GNLA, a Meghalaya-based outfit, is trying to sneak into Guwahati city to carry out unlawful activities. Baruah further said investigations have revealed that the GNLA and the ULFA-ATF had reached an understanding and both were helping each other.

• March 7: SFs arrested seven persons from different places of Tinsukia District in connection with extortion cases. The arrested persons include a ULFA militant, three ULFA linkmen and three men who posed as ULFA.

• March 5: One ULFA cadre, identified as SS Binod Buragohain alias Madhujya Boruah alias Aaichang Gohain, surrendered along with one pistol and one Chinese grenade.

• March 4: ULFA-ATF exploded an IED at Borpathar in Sivasagar District, damaging a power transmission tower of NEEPCO. The Police suspect ULFA-ATF had carried out the blast to threaten the ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, who hails from the area.

  ULFA-ATF is in desperate need of funds and might carry out violent act in the State to make their presence felt.

• March 3: A ULFA cadre was killed in an encounter with the Police and the Army at Thakurvila under Lakhipur Police Station in Goalpara District.

• March 1: Governor J B Patnaik appealed to the ULFA-ATF led by Paresh Baruah to join the peace process like other militant formations in the State.

• February 29: DGP JN Choudhury said that investigators of the grenade blast on February 28 in Guwahati have pointed finger towards involvement of ULFA-ATF in the incidence. Forensic experts revealed that the grenade lobbed on February 28 is mostly used by ULFA.

  SFs arrested a Bangladeshi linkman of ULFA and GNLA in West Garo Hills District. During interrogation, Marak revealed that he was staying in Samalchura area in Bangladesh's Sherpur District and that he has been working for ULFA for the last 10 years and got involved with GNLA in 2011.

  NF Railway has abandoned its plan to shut down one of its lower primay school at Hijuguri in Tinsukia District following a threat issued by ULFA-ATF.

• February 28: Two civilians were injured in a grenade explosion near Punjab National Bank branch at the Nursery area in Ganeshguri area of Guwahati City on February 28. "Two people were injured in the blast and they were taken to Gauhati Medical College Hospital. We can't comment on any militant outfit's involvement before we investigate the matter," said G P Nath, Inspector General of Police -Central Western Range (IGP-CWR). However, intelligence sources suspect the hand of ULFA-ATF behind the incident. No militant formation has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

  SFs arrested three persons, including a ULFA-PTF militant, Ashim Bora alias Pankaj Gogoi, from the Lakua area of Sivasagar District on charges of extortion. They served an extortion note of INR 2 million on APL in Sivasagar; recently.

• February 26: SFs arrested a suspected militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as Akhil Das (25), along with explosives from Mirza area in Kamrup (Rural) District.

• February 25: SFs arrested two suspected ULFA-ATF militants, identified as Kehsav Gogoi and Shofik Gogoi, from Noshdia area of Tinsukia District.

• February 24: ULFA-ATF in small groups of five or six members, have managed to sneak into the country, they are in areas of Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh bordering the State.

  SFs arrested three militants belonging to Anti-Talks faction of ULFA-ATF at Machkhowa area of Guwahati city.

• February 19: CM Tarun Gogoi had a meeting with Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to review the law and order situation in the State. After the meeting Gogoi said, "The Maoists are getting support from other NE rebel groups, like the ULFA and the ISI too is getting involved". He further said that the State requested the Union Minister for additional Central forces to prevent any kind of militant activities in the State.

  On the peace process with various militant groups, Gogoi said, "Our doors for talks are still open for everyone including the Paresh Barua-led ULFA faction. We want peaceful resolution of all problems and we will back the Centre in this."

  Tarun Gogoi went on to say that, Myanmar continued to be a base for NE militants even after India's relations with the neighboring nation have improved.

  SFs arrested four militants of the ULFA-ATF, identified as Dulu Saikia alias Rinku, Dipankar Bora, Numal Gogoi and Robin Bora, from Phool Bagan in Dibrugarh Town.

• February 14: TADA Designated Court, in Guwahati acquitted 'finance secretary' of ULFA-PTF, Sasha Choudhury in connection with an extortion case. The case was registered against ULFA members for allegedly demanding an amount of INR 100, 000 from Dalim Gogoi, a resident of Anand Nagar, Bhangagarh of the City on December 5, 1986.

• February 13: On the issue of ULFA-ATF leader Paresh Baruah, G.K Pillai said, "Paresh Baruah lost all his assets when he left Bangladesh. Now, he is struggling to garner funds to run the ULFA anti-talks faction. Our efforts should be geared towards preventing him from creating any assets". He further stated, "There could be tacit support from China. India has raised the issue with China at the diplomatic level last year. We have even provided a copy of Baruah's air ticket from Dhaka to Yunnan. But, as usual, China has been denying Baruah's presence in its territory."

• February 11: State Police have arrested 620 cadres of various outfits involved in peace talks on charges of extortion, abduction and other crimes.

• February 9: SFs arrested 'Commander-in-Chief' of newly floated Black Rhino Commando of Assam and a former ULFA linkman, identified as Rajib Banik alias Ajit Phukan (26), from Nagaon District.

• February 8: SFs arrested two suspected ULFA militants, identified as Abdul Hussain and Kashal Barua, from Kenduguri village under Simaluguri Police Station in Sivasagar District.

• February 7: ULFA-ATF has been trying to create division among the ULFA-PTF members, while making efforts to increase its own strength.

• February 5: Pro-Talks faction of ULFA-PTF charter of demands to the Central Government include a separate Constitution on the lines of Jammu & Kashmir for Assam, an "Upper House" in the state Assembly and the setting up of a Supreme Court bench.

• February 3: Suspected militant belonging to ULFA-ATF killed a businessperson, identified as Ikramul Hussain (32), at Alu Chauka chowk of Mongoldoi in Darrang District. Another civilian, identified as Pankaj Sahoria (25), sustained bullet injury on his hand when he tried to help the deceased businessperson.

  Growing ties between the ULFA-ATF and GNLA have become matter of serious concern for the Government of Meghalaya as well as for the Security agencies.

• February 2: ULFA-ATF 'Vice Chairman' Paresh Baruah confirmed his group's links with CPI-Maoist.

  A plea for extradition of ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia was made by India to Bangladesh during a meeting between officers of the foreign ministries of the two countries in Dhaka recently.

• January 30: The next round of talks between the Central Government and ULFA-PTF will be held in New Delhi in February 2012.

• January 24: Three militants belonging to the ULFA-ATF surrendered before SFs at Philobari in Tinsukia District.

  SFs have intensified their operations to take out the ULFA-ATF militants under Rajib Das who have reportedly taken shelter in the numerous chaporis (sandbars) in and around in Majuli island in Jorhat District and are serving extortion notes and planning sabotage during the Republic Day (January 26).

• January 22: SFs arrested a top ULFA militant, identified as Dipak Rabha alias Shankar from Sonapur area in the suburb of Guwahati city.

  Security has been beefed up along the interstate border with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland to frustrate any attempt by the militants to sneak into the State.

  CorCom of seven militant outfits of Manipur have joined hands with five other Militant groups of the Northeastern and called for a mass boycott of Republic Day celebrations on January 26 in the entire northeast. Five other outfits include the ULFA-ATF, HNLC, KLO, NLFT and ATTF.

• January 20: The central jail in Jorhat has been put on high alert following an intelligence report about a purported ULFA-ATF plan to attack a state minister inside the jail premises during his customary visit there after hoisting the Tricolour on Republic Day (January 26).

  Security has been beefed up in Guwahati following apprehension that the ULFA-ATF and NDFB might carry out subversive activities in the Dispur ahead of Republic Day.

  The ULFA-ATF announced that henceforth all the surname of its leaders and cadres would be same and the common surname will be 'Asom'. In a statement issued to the media through e-mail, the ULFA-ATF said to replace the surnames of its members with 'Asom' was aimed at reflecting the outfit's commitment to expedite the evolution of the 'great Assamese nation' irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

• January 17: SFs arrested two ULFA linkmen, Robin Biswas (20) and Rakhal Chandra Biswas (47), from Balajan in Dhubri District.

• January 16: SFs arrested one ULFA militant, identified as Padamdhar Moran alias Poya Kaye (35), at Makum under Makum Police Station in Tinsukia District.

  SFs arrested a ULFA militant, identified as Sapring Rabha (29) alias Khaplang, from Kasumari village under Krishnai Police Station of Goalpara District.

• January 15: Paresh Baruah would expel ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and other senior leaders and Central Committee of the outfit permanently to start afresh the armed struggle. Further, Senior ULFA-ATF, Drishti Rajkhowa alias Manoj Rabha and Bijay Das alias Bijay Chinese would now act as the overall Commander of Lower and Upper Assam region respectively.

• January 10: SFs arrested three ULFA-ATF linkman, at Basbari village of Kokrajhar District.

• January 6: Militant groups operating in the Northeast have realised that violence will never pay and the only way to solve their problems is peace negotiations, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said. "Most militant groups have come to realise that violence will not pay, state will never allow the violence to pay. The state will never allow any violent group to overthrow, overpower the state and talks are the only way to find solutions to their problems," he said. Chidambaram said it was heartening that most of the militant groups were in the mood to talk and most part of Northeast was free from conflict. He also said that the Centre, in collaboration with State Governments, made efforts to deal with insurgent groups operating in the region through various ways in the last two years.

  Chidambaram said peace agreements have been signed by the Government with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in West Bengal, UPDS in Assam and again it was on the verge of concluding another agreement with at least two groups in Assam. "ULFA, both factions of NSCN -- IM and K -- as well as NDFB are in talks mood. The talks are at different degrees. Formal talks are underway with NSCN-IM. Talks have began with ULFA and I am confident that shortly talks will begin with NDFB. Many other smaller groups are in talks mood," he said.

  He said most of the Northeast was today conflict-free and there was no violence in most parts of Northeast as 2011 witnessed a new low in the level of violence where in all states together there were only 627 incidents in which 70 civilians and 32 Security Force personnel were killed. "There is a grain of truth (to it). But much has been changed in the Northeast. By any measure, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and most parts of Assam are conflict free. Conflict is today confined to Manipur, to some extent in Nagaland, and it might be paradoxical to note that the level of violence (in Nagaland) is extremely low, and some parts of Assam," he said.

  The Home Minister, however, said there were still some areas of concern that include extortion and occasional kidnapping for extortion. "Extortion keeps the militant groups going. That is their source of funds....I have been saying this with responsibility that these extortion rackets must be stopped," he added. Chidambaram said the Central government was offering support to all state governments in the region to ensure that extortion does not take place and kidnapping for extortion does not take place. "During the last year, these incidents have come down dramatically and I am confident that in 2012, the situation will be better," he said.

• January 5: State home department has sounded a high alert in Upper Assam Districts, following intelligence reports that the ULFA-ATF may try to target the Hindi-speaking population in the run-up to Republic Day (January 26).

• January 4: SFs arrested a Bangladeshi ULFA linkman identified as Philipa Sangma (21) along with FICN worth around INR 3,000 from Gopinathkilla in the same District.

• January 3: ULFA-ATF has taken to moral policing. ULFA-ATF 'chairman' Abhijeet Barman, in an emailed statement said, "We also want to know from the people about their suggestions on what exemplary punishment would be suitable for those who commit crimes that contribute to overall degradation of society."

• January 2: Suspected ULFA-ATF militants exploded a grenade injuring three persons, one of them critically, on GNB Road in Tinsukia town.

  SFs recovered a 5-kilogram IED from a winger at Chabua in Dibrugarh District.

  SFs arrested an ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Hemakanta Changmai, from Lekhapani in Tinsukia District.

• January 1: It is not possible for the leaders of the militant groups of North East including 'Commander-in Chief' of ULFA, Paresh Baruch to stay in China without the knowledge of the Chinese authorities, said former GOC of the 4 Corps of the Army, Lt Gen (Reid) DB Shekhatkar.

  Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the insurgency situation in the State was under control.

  The ULFA-ATF e-mailed a video to the media houses, showing about 50 cadres taking part in a parade in battle fatigue at an unknown hideout surrounded by hills and jungles. The video did not reveal anything about the group's intention of sending it or its future plans.

2011

• December 28: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ongoing protest in the State against the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh has the support of ULFA-ATF and Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist). Gogoi said, "It is out in the open now. ULFA rebels and Maoists [CPI-Maoist] are very much there. They are trying to enforce lawlessness in the state and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity [KMSS] is also there."

• December 24: SFs destroyed a major training camp belonging to NSCN-K and ULFA in Namchik Reserve Forest near Panchum under Kharsang circle of Changlang District.

• December 19: Expressing concern at the spread of the CPI-Maoist in the State, Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik said, "Now a new insurgent element has entered the scene. It is the Maoists. "They are mostly active in Dhemaji and Tinsukia Districts bordering with Lower Dibang valley and Lohit Districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

• December 18: Police arrested two SULFA militants, identified as Manjit Roy and Nitya Roy, for their alleged involvement in the abduction of a businessman in Dhubri District.

• December 15: BSF spokesman Ravi Gandhi said, "We have given them a list of Indian insurgents' camps, including the banned ULFA, NSCN-IM, NDFB, NLFT, HNLC, PLA and GNLA in Bangladesh. We are hopeful they will soon act on it".

• December 13: In recent times, ULFA-ATF has recruited 20 youths from the Districts of Nalbari, Baksa, Barpeta, Kamrup (Rural) and Kamrup.

• December 12: ULFA-ATF stated that Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was a member of the political wing of the outfit.

• December 11: SFs arrested three ULFA militants from a farmhouse in Baihata Chariali in Kamrup District.

  Another three ULFA militants were arrested from Golakganj in Dhubri District.

• December 10: SFs arrested an ULFA linkman, identified as Phanindra Deka (37), from Noonmati area in Guwahati City.

• December 9: Security has been beefed up in the Districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh following the threat by ULFA-ATF to target Non-Assamese.

• December 8: ULFA-ATF 'publicity in charge' Arunodoi Dohotiya, said that the "Indian forces", particularly the personnel of the CoBRA, are committing atrocities on innocent people in upper Assam, particularly in the District of Tinsukia. He further said that the outfit would not tolerate such atrocities on innocent people and if such acts are not stopped immediately, the "Indian citizens" living in Assam would have to face the consequences. According to information available with the security agencies, at least 40 cadres of the outfit are moving around in Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh as well as in Majuli and Sadiya.

• December 7: Regarding the detention of Jibon Moran 'second-in-command' of ULFA-ATF, Shambu Singh, Joint Secretary (Northeast) in the MHA said, "Myanmarese authorities have conveyed to the MEA (ministry of external affairs) about the arrest of two Indian journalists from Myanmar-China border, but said there has been no arrest of any person by the name of Jibon Moran".

• December 6: ULFA-ATF abducted wife and son of a businessman, Binod Bansal, from Sonari in Sivasagar District. The abducted mother and son were identified as Padma and Parash respectively.

• Suspected ULFA militant armed with sharp weapons attacked and seriously injured six people at Jagun in Tinsukia Distict.

• SFs arrested one militant of NDFB-Ranjan Daimary, identified as Ashish Boro, from Kacheripara village in Udalguri District. SFs recovered a 9mm pistol and a magazine from him.

• December 4: SFs exchanged fire with militants of ULFA-ATF at Na Tal Pathar under Bordumsa Police Station in Tinsukia District.

• December 3: Thirty-three militants of the anti-talks factions of the NDFB Ranjan Daimary-faction and the ULFA-ATF surrendered before the Army and deposited their arms, ammunition and explosives in Assam.

  Jivan Moran, a top leader of the militant outfit ULFA-ATF and an Indian journalist were reportedly detained by authorities in Myanmar.

• December 2: ULFA-ATF 'Commander-in-Chief' Paresh Baruah has sought help from highly trained militants of Manipur-based PLA to launch offensive in Assam. Sources said that it was second instance within 2011 when the PLA militants are roped in by the ULFA-ATF.

• December 1: New 'acting chairman' of Anti Talks faction of ULFA-ATF Dr Abhijeet Bormon is an Assamese Doctor living in Cleveland region of UK. Dr Borman is believed to run a frontal organisation of the ULFA from UK.

• November 28: ULFA-PTF 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa said that only discussions can lead to a political settlement and cautioned that failure of which would lead to a state of civil war. He further said, "People of Assam means not only Assamese people but all 'bhumiputras'(son of the soil) who have raised the demand for establishing peace in the state. We have only obeyed their demand and initiated peace talks with the government."

  DPC urged Pro-Talks faction of ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa to support the demand for merger of Dimasa inhabited area of Nagaon, Cachar, Karbi Anglong and Nagaland contiguous to Dima Hasao District by incorporating it in ULFA's charter of demands, which would be placed before the Central Government.

• November 27: Three militants of ULFA-ATF, identified as 'corporal' Bhadiya Bhumij alias Bidea Gowala, 'corporal' Tankeswar Moran and 'corporal' Rocky Bordoloi, alias Bidul Sonowal, surrendered at Laipuli in Tinsukia District.

• November 26: SFs recovered arms and ammunition following an encounter between SFs and Anti-Talks Faction of ULFA-ATF militants in the forests between Madhupur and Medela in Dibrugarh District.

• November 25: SFs arrested another suspected ULFA militant, Kumud Das alias Ron Hazarika, from Nalbari District.

• November 24: ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia's extradition will face legal hurdle even after signing of extradition treaty with Bangladesh as Chetia has applied for political asylum. Further, Bangladesh Government cannot take any unilateral decision on handing over Chetia to India unless the court allows it and so India can only seek his possession.

• November 23: ULFA-ATF announced a new 16-member central committee, but left all positions occupied by ULFA-PTF leaders free except that of the deputy commander-in-chief.

  ULFA-PTF described the move as unconstitutional, as it went against the outfit's basic tenets.

  A top source in the MHA said the name of the new chairman could be a "fictitious one". He added, "We find a couple of fictitious names in the new committee like Lt Salim and Lt Azahar Ali, both of whom are designated as assistant organisation secretaries."

  The Central Government has warned State Government of possible subversive acts by ULFA-ATF between November 27, 2011 and January 26 2012 after intercepting two phone calls made by Paresh Baruah to his cadres based in the state.

• November 22: The Central Government has formally confirmed that several militant outfits of Northeast, including ULFA, NDFB, both factions of NSCN have camps in Sagaing Region, and States of Chin and Kachin in Myanmar.

• November 20: SFs recovered an IED weighing 12 kilograms suspected to bat Lakhurakhan Gaon under Sonari Police Station in Sivasagar District. Officer-in-Charge of Sonari Police Station Abdul Hannan on the issue said, "The IED was dug out based on information provided by ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom] linkman Naba Gogoi who was picked up from Sungi Gaon under Lukhurakhan area today."

  ULFA-ATF announced that a new 16-member Central committee of the outfit would be formed soon. Central publicity secretary-in- charge of ULFA-ATF, Arunodoi Dohotiya said that the new body of the ULFA would not have an executive body but a three member permanent committee and there is possibility of expanding the same committee in a later date. ULFA-ATF has decided to appoint three prominent persons, who support the demand for sovereignty of Assam, as political advisers. Further, it also announced that if the ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa or any other leader returns to the outfit, due honour would be given to them.

  Security Sources are worried about ULFA-ATF revival plans. ULFA-ATF is reported to have recruited more than 120 new cadres in the past six months, revamped its political wing and extorting money from leading business houses in Assam.

  Two top militants of the ULFA-ATF were killed when the explosives they were trying to plant on a railway track exploded at Aouhatia Sarangabam between Bhojo and Longpotia railway stations, in Sivasagar District.

  Governor of the State Janaki Ballav Patnaik said that as far as money and weapons are concerned, the CPI-Maoist cadres in Odisha and Chhattisgarh are getting constant help from ULFA-ATF.

• November 18: ULFA-ATF 'Chief' Paresh Baruah has instructed his cadres to drive the CPI-Maoist out of their territory. Subir Bhaumik, 'Editor' of English daily Seven Sisters Post said, "Baruah is informing his cadres through various selective media houses to keep them away from areas where Maoists are operating since he does not want his boys to come under Army attack. Since he is a name to reckon with in Assam, a threat from him will also keep the Maoists away from his territory-his main idea is to scale down Army operations and alert his men of the impending danger".

• November 17: SFs busted a hideout and killed three militants of the ULFA in the Namsai Reserve Forest area in Lohit District.Two of the three militants were identified as Kapil Bora and Ramen Gogoi while the third remains unidentified. SFs recovered one AK 47 rifle and grenades during the operation.

  State Government is worried following intelligence inputs suggesting presence of senior CPI-Maoist leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji somewhere in Bongaigaon or Kokrajhar District in the State. Sources said that the inputs available also indicated that a few former members of the ULFA were giving a helping hand to the Maoist leader to sneak into Assam to establish bases of the rebel groups in North East.

  SFs have beefed up vigil in the State apprehending attempts by the ULFA-ATF to strike on and around the 'Black day' on November 28.

• November 16: SFs recovered five bottle grenades from the house of one Dhaneshwar Konwar, a resident of Laguabari village under Demow Police Station in Sivasagar District. The recovery was based on information provided by the ULFA-ATF linkman, identified as Trailakya Hazarika (35), arrested on November 15 from Lukhurakhan under Sonari Police Station in Sivasagar District. Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Eastern range) Anurag Tankha said that the bottle grenades were suspected to be of Chinese origin. Tankha said that the ULFA-ATF had acquired the bottle grenades recently for carrying out sabotage in the run-up to the "black day" which the ULFA observes on November 28.

  India is likely to lodge its protest against the presence ULFA-ATF 'Chairman' Paresh Baruah in China, besides the flow of weapons into the Northeastern region.

• November 15: A Bangladeshi court indicted ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua and 10 others, including former Junior Home Minister Lutfozzaman Babar, JeI leader Matiur Rahman Nizami and former top bosses of the Bangladesh's intelligence agencies, in the country's biggest weapons smuggling case when 10-truck loads of arms for ULFA were seized on April 2, 2004. The hearing (of the main trial) will start on November 29, 2011.

  Officials familiar with the investigation said their extended investigation found Chinese firm NORINCO to have produced the weapons but they could not identify the ship that carried the illegal consignment to Bangladeshi territory.

• November 13: SFs arrested one ULFA-ATF 'Medical wing' militant, identified as Rajiv Choudhury alias S Haque, from Sijubari under Hatigaon Police Station of Guwahati City. Security sources further said that attempts are being made by the ULFA-ATF to create disturbances in the city along with the assistance of the Manipur-based PLA.

  ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa said, "Our priority is getting an honourable solution and an acceptable agreement. Lifting of the banned outfit label and general amnesty are not on our mind right now. These may come at a later stage," he said. Issues like ground rules of ceasefire are also too trifle to be discussed at the moment. Rajkhowa said, "We have not raised the banned outfit and the amnesty issues in our talks so far with the government". Rajkhowa further said, "Our principle concern is to empower the people of the state to assert their rights to control their lands and their natural resources for an honourable existence and also to protect their identity. The people feel insecure in their own land."

  SFs arrested a linkman belonging to the ULFA-ATF, identified as Roshan Lal Shah alias Sita Ram, a resident of Khonsa in Arunachal Pradesh from Nagakhat village under Joyore Police Station in Dibrugarh District. SFs recovered1500 assorted live cartridges and 42 thermo wears from his possession.

• November 11: A MHA note, confirmed the presence of ULFA-ATF chief Paresh Baruah in China. The note confirms that Baruah along with the entire top leadership of ULFA-ATF has now set up camp in the Yunan province of China. The MHA note talks about how Baruah and his associates are training the new cadres in the area. Various press release emails sent by ULFA has been traced to be sent from China in the past and sources have revealed that Paresh has succeeded in taking away his family from Bangladesh to China.

  SFs recovered one kilogram of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosive at Na-Saudhang village under Tingkhong Police Station in Dibrugarh District following the leads provided by arrested SULFA militant Tapan Gogoi alias Kanak Baruah. The Police claimed that Kanak Baruah had been keeping a good liaison with the ULFA-ATF.

  SFs arrested ULFA-ATF militant "corporal" Pankaj Gogoi alias Lakkhi alias Vicky alias Tutu alias Kutub from Lachit Nagar area of Guwahati City. Police sources revealed that Gogoi had been involved in the murder of SULFA Tileswar Lahon on October 29. A police official said, "Pankaj was here in the city for the last two weeks and was collecting extortion money from some of the business giants here. He was working under ULFA's sergeant major Babul Gogoi alias Bipul Mahanta, whom we are still looking for."

• November 5: Suspected ULFA militants killed a businessman, identified as Nanki Pandit, at Bamunbari in Dibrugarh District.

• November 4: ULFA-ATF fired at the Police personnel and injured one constable, identified as Kamal Nath near Borhat Police Station in Sivasagar District.

  ULFA-ATF chief Paresh Baruah has taken absolute control of the outfit by sacking all his comrades and disbanding the political outfit currently holding peace talks with the Central Government. In the new set-up, Jibon Moran, who is in-charge of ULFA's base in Myanmar, will be next to Paresh Baruah, as the outfit's 'deputy commander'. Bijoy "Chinese" Das will act as "army commander", while Nayan Medhi will work as Bijoy's deputy. Pranmoy Asom, a new recruit, will be the "foreign secretary", Drishti Rajkhowa, "finance secretary", Arunadoy Dohotiya as "central publicity secretary," while Partha Gogoi will be "cultural secretary" and Michale Dekaphukan has been appointed "organization secretary".

  Earlier, Paresh Baruah had restructured his battalions as 1st battalion in Bangladesh (Lakhimi), 2nd battalion in Myanmar (Rongili) and 3rd battalion in Majuli at Assam (Kopili). Earlier, ULFA-PTF 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa had amended ULFA constitution by forming a new committee, called the "Central and Naba Niraman Kendra Steering Committee," which will oversee every detail of the peace process and report only to the General Council of the outfit.

• November 2: Shortage of funds has made the ULFA-ATF issue extortion threat to traders in the Districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh and some small tea growers.

  The 'publicity in charge' of the ULFA-ATF, Arunodoi Dohotia on November 2 said that they would not wait forever for ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa or other central committee members to return to the organization and there would be change of leadership of the outfit if necessary. Dohotia further said that the ULFA leaders who gave up the demand for sovereignty would be considered as the "pasts of the ULFA".

  Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reacting to the ULFA-ATF threat said, "There is nothing new in the threat. The government is always prepared to reply to such threats. Paresh Baruah is no longer a threat as he is himself weak now. This threat is not a matter of concern". Gogoi expressed concern over the rise in Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) presence in the state and said," Maoists are bigger threat now. We are contemplating seeking more Central forces to tackle this problem."

  Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju on November 2 said the Government was aware of the CPI-Maoist spreading their activities in the northeast and was taking steps to contain them.Earlier on October 19, Joint Intelligence Committee Chief Ajit Lal had said in Shillong that there was evidence of the ULFA having established linkages with Manipur-based secessionist rebel group People's Liberation Army and the Upper Assam Leading Committee of the CPI-Maoist.

• November 1: ULFA-ATF threatened to target political leaders and others who have been working against the interests of the people of Assam. ULFA-ATF 'Publicity Secretary', Arunodoy Dohotia, on November 1 said, "We want to appeal to all indigenous people of the state to stay away from vehicles used by occupational forces, people associated with the forces and their residences, vehicles of leaders of political parties, outside companies and businessmen who are busy exploiting local resources and the corrupt like those who take bribes and blackmarketeers".

  In an email sent by Kamal Kochari, a member of ULFA-PTF publicity cell said, "As an organisation, ULFA has nothing to say about the personal statement of Paresh Barua which was made without the slightest knowledge of the present situation of Assam. It is always easy to issue warnings from a distance in the name of a so-called movement. In today's scenario, the people of Assam are in favour of a political solution of the ULFA-Government problem, the demand to establish sovereign Assam is nothing but an imagination. There is no real value in the demand."

  Former ULFA militants, under the banner of Prakton ULFA Samanyarakhi Samiti, gave a call for a 24-hour bandh (shutdown strike) in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts from 5am on November 3 in protest against the October 28 killing of Tileswar Lahon, SULFA.

  ULFA-ATF is imparting arms training to CPI-Maoists cadres in jungles of Arunachal Pradesh.

• October 31: The Goalpara-West Garo Hills corridor is being used by the Bangladesh-based residual group of ULFA-ATF under the leadership of Drishti Rajkhowa and providing all logistics to GNLA. The report further states that Paresh Baruah has set up his camp at a place called Tagugumsa on China-Myanmar Border in Yunan Province. It is reported that they have acquired a large number of sophisticated weapons like T-81, Heckler and Kolts, Chinese bottle grenades, RCIED, adding a new dimension to the security scenario of the State.

  Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh on October 31 described the formal peace talks with ULFA as constructive.

  ULFA-ATF 'chairman' Paresh Baruah in a statement said, "Permanent solution of the Assam-India conflict will not be found unless discussion is held on sovereignty of Assam, the main objective behind ULFA's formation, Unless colonial India recognises the right of freedom of Assam and the people of so-called Northeast, the promises of establishing permanent peace in the region is nothing but a fanciful slogan," he further said, "Thuingaleng Muivah has continued the peace process for 14 years. But during this time, the Centre has disintegrated and weakened the Nagas. If Muivah signed any agreement compromising the sovereignty issue of the Nagas the generations will never accept it."

• October 30: Assam Government is not considering the appeal from some civil society groups to grant general amnesty to the members and the leaders of the ULFA-PTF. SJA, a forum of intellectuals who played a key role in facilitating dialogue between Government of India and the ULFA- PTF along with some other civil society groups want the Government to withdraw cases against the militants.

• October 29: SFs arrested two suspected militants belonging to ULFA, identified as Monowar Hussein Mondol and Sattar Ali, near Naranarayan Bridge at Jogighopa under Jogighopa Police Station of Bongaigaon District. SFs recovered two hand-made pistols along with two-extortion letter from the militants.

• October 28: A former ULFA cadre, identified as Tileswar Lahon, was shot dead by unidentified assailants near his Moran residence in Dibrugarh District. Police sources said three unidentified gunmen fired several rounds from AK-47 rifles at Lahon before fleeing on a motorcycle. The Police said it was not yet clear whether any militant outfit was behind the attack or it was spurred by business rivalry.

• October 26: A day after a formal round of negotiations with the Centre and Assam Government, ULFA leaders met Government of India's interlocutor, P C Haldar for an informal discussion. According to sources, ULFA leader Sasha Choudhury met Haldar to discuss about the agenda for the future round of political dialogue on the basis of the militant outfit's charter of demands.

  ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah slammed the first official peace talks between the ULFA and the Centre held on October 25 in New Delhi.

• October 25: A tripartite meet involving the Union Government, the Assam Government and ULFA had broad discussions on the outfit's charter of demands that it had submitted to the Government in August. The ULFA team was led by its Chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa. Union home secretary R.K. Singh, who presided over the discussions, said that "The steps taken by the ULFA leaders for restoration of peace and normalcy in the area would yield speedier socio-economic development for the people of Assam." He promised to review the status of talks, which will now be carried forward by the Union Government's interlocutor for the peace talks with ULFA, P.C. Haldar, periodically. Assam Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das described the meeting as cordial and fruitful. "There was some discussion on rehabilitation as well as issues relating to setting up of designated camps - to be christened as Nabanirman Kendras - for the ULFA cadres," he said. Echoing Das, ULFA vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi said the talks were positive. "The issue of designated camps, framing of ground rules were also discussed," he said. "It (the meeting) has set the ball rolling for further talks to bring about a lasting solution to Assam's insurgency problem," the official said.

• October23: SFs arrested a gang of five youths from Lekhapani under Jagun outpost in Jorhat District who were demanding money in the name of ULFA.

  Giving a fresh impetus to the ongoing peace process, the Government will hold talks with the ULFA on October 25 with an aim of finding a lasting solution to Assam's three-decade-old insurgency problem. Top ULFA leaders will discuss with Government representatives various aspects of the group's 'charter of demands' which sought amendment in the Constitution for finding "meaningful" ways to protect the rights and identity of the indigenous people of Assam.

  The Terror Victim's Family Forum, Assam, an umbrella organisation of victims of militancy, said they would oppose any move seeking bail for NDFB leader Ranjan Daimary, the prime accused in the October 30, 2008, serial blasts that killed close to 100 people and injured hundreds. The forum, which has nearly 6,000 members, condemned the government's move that facilitated the release of ULFA leaders from jail and said a similar move to release Daimary, if made, would be unacceptable.

• October 22: Giving a fresh impetus to the ongoing peace process, the Government will hold talks with the ULFA on October 25 with an aim of finding a lasting solution to Assam's three-decade-old insurgency problem. Top ULFA leaders will discuss with Government representatives various aspects of the group's 'charter of demands', which sought amendment in the Constitution for finding "meaningful" ways to protect the rights and identity of the indigenous people of Assam.

  PCPD has been formed in Sivasagar with the objectives of providing guidance and direction to ULFA to the possible extent, in convening talks with the Government of India by taking into account the real aspirations of the people, the views and approach, as well as, to make the people aware of the conditions and to make them conscious to form opinions and verdicts in this context.

  Peoples' Council for Peace and Development (PCPD) has been formed in Sivasagar with the objectives of providing guidance and direction to ULFA to the possible extent, in convening talks with the Government of India by taking into account the real aspirations of the people, the views and approach, as well as, to make the people aware of the conditions and to make them conscious to form opinions and verdicts in this context.

  The Terror Victim's Family Forum, Assam, an umbrella organisation of victims of militancy, on October 23 said they would oppose any move seeking bail for NDFB leader Ranjan Daimary, the prime accused in the October 30, 2008, serial blasts that killed close to 100 people and injured hundreds. The forum, which has nearly 6,000 members, condemned the government's move that facilitated the release of ULFA leaders from jail and said a similar move to release Daimary, if made, would be unacceptable.

• October 21: Assam CM Tarun Gogoi on the role of NSCN-IM in Dima Hasao (NC Hills) said, "It is a fact that the NSCN-IM has been found to be involved in violence in the border areas of the State. We have been taking up the matter with the Centre so that the militant group desists from such activities". On the involvement of ULFA cadres in the recent spurt in attacks on businessmen in Guwahati city apparently with a motive to loot cash, the CM said that the matter would be taken up with the ULFA-PTF group if the arrested ULFA cadres were found to belong to that faction.

  SFs reportedly arrested four militants, including a central committee member of the ULFA, Vimal Roy alias Dergrah Sarania, from Dalu along the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Garo Hills District. Another ULFA militant, 'second lieutenant' Akash Thapa alias Saranga Patwari, was also among the arrestees. The SFs also recovered seven mobile handsets from the three occupants of the vehicle. According to sources, Saranga Patwari initially claimed that he was one of the members of the ULFA-PTF. However; the Police are still verifying the claim. Dergrah Sarania was arrested in 2009 under the Bangladesh Passport act for having fake documents and spent some time in prison in Bangladesh. Sarania is also reportedly close to ULFA 'commander' Dristi Rajkhowa.

• October 20: ULFA-ATF warned tea companies in the state to pay the correct price of green leaves to small tea growers in the state or face the consequences. ULFA-ATF 'publicity in-charge' Arunodoy Dohitiya on October 19 in an email said, "We appeal to big tea companies to pay the right price to them and urge the growers to intensify their protests if they don't get the correct price. ULFA will be forced to take action if the small tea growers are deprived of their dues."

  ULFA-ATF has reorganized its member under three groups namely Rongili, Lakhimi and Kopili. Rongili (the cheerful lady) is the identification code for ULFA-ATF's biggest group based in Myanmar, Lakhimi (the homely lady) is the group still left behind in Bangladesh and Kopili (the speedy river) stands for the erstwhile 27th battalion, which is now temporarily based in Majuli.

  Union Home Ministry said that terrorist outfits NLFT, ATTF, ULFA, NDFB and Meitei extremist outfits of Manipur continue to have close links between themselves to carry out subversive activities.

• October 19: Joint Intelligence Committee Chief Ajit Lal said that there was no evidence of linkages between the CPI-Maoist and the ULFA, but the Left-wing Extremists have already made inroads in the Northeastern region. Lal said, "There are no evidence of linkages between the CPI-Maoist and the ULFA, but there are evidence of their linkages with the People's Liberation Army (a Manipur-based rebel group) [PLA] and the Upper Assam Leading Committee of CPI (Maoist)".

• October 18: ULFA-ATF militants on October 10 killed a buisinessman, identified Sanjay Basak, and injured his younger brother and looted an unspecified amount of Indian currency along with jewellery in Fatasil Ambari of Guwahati city. The revelation was made when SFs arrested a top ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Chandan Kalita, from the Chandmari area of Guwahati. SFs later on October 19 arrested another suspect identified as Safikul Islam from Dhubri.

• October 16: Publicity in-charge of the ULFA-ATF, Arunodoi Dohotiya said that if the ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa signs any accord with the Government of India by going against the principles of the outfit, they would not accept the same.

• October 15: ULFA-PTF has deposited its weapons ahead of the peace negotiations scheduled for October 25. However, the faction has deposited just 57 assorted weapons, a number believed to be far smaller than the outfit's actual arsenal. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in this regard said said, "Initially, there was some objection from ULFA leaders to depositing the weapons, but the government has convinced them to do so. It is a uniform policy followed with all outfits that before talks start they should deposit their weapons, stay in designated camps and not resort to any extortion." Gogoi said the first round of talks between ULFA and the Centre, since the tripartite ceasefire agreement was signed last month, will be held in New Delhi on October 25. A memorandum of settlement would also be signed with the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), another militant outfit of the state, on October 24 in New Delhi.

  Giving details of the deposit of weapons with the Centre, State Home Secretary G D Tripathi said, "They have so far deposited 57 weapons but they might still have some weapons with them. We will be getting the rest of the arms as well." Tripathi further said, "They are under a double-lock safe custody, with keys to one lock with the local police officer and the other with the ULFA leader. Very soon, we will be shifting these weapons to the camps where the ULFA cadres will be staying while the peace talks proceed." On the issue of designated ceasefire camps home secretary Tripathi said, "There will be nine such camps in the state and the camp at Goalpara is ready to be handed over to the cadres. When the cadres of that area move into the camp, we can shift the deposited weapons there." The home secretary said that the ULFA-PTF cadres would have to stay in designated camps, which they want to be named as Assam Naba Nirman Kendra. The home secretary said the Rajkhowa faction has also submitted a list of the cadres of the ULFA-PTF who number 297.

  Suspected militants belonging to the ULFA-ATF on October 15 abducted a small tea grower, Dhruba Duwania in Tinsukia District. Duwani had earlier received an extortion note of INR 500,000from the ULFA-ATF.

• October 14: ULFA-ATF demanded an explanation from ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa regarding his recent commitment to ailing singer Bhupen Hazarika in Mumbai that a "pact" on the vexed Assam issue would be signed with the Centre by next year. ULFA-ATF 'central publicity chief 'Arunodoi Dohotia said, "After so many pacts involving the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir turning out to be worth naught in the past, ULFA does not believe in any more treaties. Neither can independence be any kind of a pact. It is not for a pact or treaty that ULFA has waged a rebellion for the last 32 years, during which over 13,000 people laid down their lives." Further Dohotia said, "It appears that Rajkhowa, who is on bail, is adopting an initiative towards a compromise and ULFA is not party to it. After so many sacrifices, ULFA cannot afford to let down people's expectations, The AASU and the AJYCP have been fighting for the state's problems from a time when ULFA was not born and now an individual, Akhil Gogoi, is taking over the reins to fight for the cause of the state. But they have always been taking up their demands with the Centre. ULFA was not born to take up Assam's issues with the Indian government. A pact with the Centre will defeat the very purpose of raising the outfit which we will never approve of."

  Under pressure of the North-Eastern States, the Government of India is likely to renew its plea to Myanmar to bust the camps operated by militants of the region.

  India is preparing to host the biggest-ever official delegation of Myanmar led by President U Thein Sein. The delegation which includes at least 13 senior ministers comprises Minister Border Affairs, Foreign Minister, and Chief of General Staff of Army. A number of agreements are likely to be signed when the two sides formally meet on October 14. Top on the agenda are discussion on cooperation on fighting the militant groups, cross-border infrastructure projects, improvement of border connectivity between Myanmar and North-Eastern States, development of border trade and bilateral trade ties.

  Sources said India is, however, likely to press for sustained operations against the militant outfits operating out of the border areas of the country. Several of the militant outfits including NSCN-K, ULFA, NDFB, besides PLA, UNLF, and PREPAK, among others, maintain and operate bases in that country. The Myanmar Army had recently mounted an operation against the militant outfits and destroyed some camps belonging to NSCN-K, where ULFA had stationed their cadres.

• October 13: SFs arrested two suspected ULFA militants, identified as Satyajit Buragohain alias Tutu (30) and Loharjyoti Hazarika (25), from Nao Mechaki area under Kakopathar Police Station of Tinsukia District . One 7.65mm Pistol, One 9mm Pistol, live rounds, one mobile phone with two SIMs and one Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle were recovered from their possession

• October 12: ULFA-ATF in an email statement stated that as the Central government for long has been taking advantage of the discord among various outfits of the region. Way back in 1985, ULFA had proposed to NSCN-IM 'General Secretary' Thuinglang Muivah to initiate a unity move among the outfits, as the government would try to play the divisive game and create fratricidal killings. Had the unity move taken place then, the movement for sovereignty in the northeastern states would have been at a different stage today.

  ULFA-PTF 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa ruled out the possibility of any adverse impact on the peace process between Central Government and ULFA-PTF because of alleged fresh recruitment of youths by the ULFA-ATF in recent times. Rajkhowa was hopeful that the ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, currently lodged in Bangladesh prison (Rajshahi), would be able to join them for the peace talks. Rajkhowa said, "We have not been able to understand why Anup has not been able to withdraw the asylum plea he had earlier filed with the Bangladesh government as it is coming in way of his release and coming here". He further said, "Anup was the first among the top ULFA leaders to speak in favor of having a dialogue with the government to arrive at a solution years back".

• October 11: SFs arrested two surrendered ULFA (SULFA) militants, identified as Pranab Saikia and Dipak Rajkhowa, from a medical shop at Dergaon in Golaghat District, when the duo had allegedly come to extort money from the shopowner in the name of ULFA. Later, SFs arrested another person identified as Biju Bora, for his involvement in the incident.

• October 10: The anti talks faction of the ULFA-ATF accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of secretly giving away Assam's land to Bangladesh in the recent land swap agreement.

  SFs arrested one ULFA linkman, identified as Haren Gogoi (30), near the Maibela Bridge of Sonari area in Sivasagar District. SFs recovered an amount of INR 173,000 from him.

• October 7: Assam Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi said the state government has proof that CPI-Maoist is trying to gain foothold in the Northeast by trying to organise protests against Hydel Power Projects. Bordoloi said, "Opposing mega power projects and gaining foothold among people is the new modus operandi of Left-wing extremism. We have evidence to substantiate that Maoists are looking to make inroads in Sadiya area of the Tinsukia District". An officer with one of the intelligence agencies said the growing presence of Naxals [Left Wing Extremists] in the Tinsukia District, a stronghold of the Anti-Talks faction of ULFA-ATF and adjoining District of Arunachal Pradesh was a security concern. Maoists have initiated a recruitment drive in the area and are targeting the youth of the area. Bordoloi further said, "To counter Maoist influence, we are initiating developmental measures. We will install transmission line along the Dholla-Sadiya Bridge. This bridge over river Brahmaputra will cut down the traveling time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh".

• October 3: A Bangladeshi court is set to frame charges against 52 suspects, including Paresh Barua, chief of the ULFA, and top Islamist leader Matiur Rahman Nizami in the country's biggest ever arms smuggling case when 10-truck loads of arms destined for the banned Indian separatist group were seized on April 1, 2004. According to reports, the court has set the date on October 25 for framing the charges. The CID has sought INTERPOL assistance to arrest Paresh Barua who is among the 41 absconders in this case.

  SFs arrested two militants belonging to the ULFA-ATF, identified as Pulin Dangoria (23) and Nijut Dangoria (20), from village Litong under Kakopathar Police Station in Tinsukia District. SFs recovered a weapon, explosives, detonators and material to fabricate an IED and mobile phones.

• October 2: With Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh becoming a hotbed of militant activities, the Government has decided to launch a full scale operation in the area. Highly placed security sources said that the militants belonging to the ULFA normally use two major routes to enter India from the camps in Myanmar. One of the routes is through the Mon District of Nagaland and the other through the Tirap and Changlang Districts. But in recent times, the ULFA cadres are mostly using the route through Arunachal Pradesh and launching of an offensive in that area would make it difficult for the militants to maintain the shelters in the place.

• October 1: suspected militants of the ULFA-PTF were involved in the killing of a businessman, identified as Anil Jain, at his garment shop near the Harimandir market in Nalbari Town.

• September 30: During the biannual conference of BSF and BGB held in Dhaka from September 25 to 30, the BSF handed over a fresh list of Indian insurgents hiding in Bangladesh to the BGB and demanded action against them even as the latter ruled out presence of rebels in Bangladesh. BSF Director-General Raman Srivastava on September 30 said, "BSF has furnished a fresh list of camps and hideouts of Indian insurgents hiding in Bangladesh soil like NLFT , ULFA, ATTF, NSCN-IM, NDFB, HNLC, PLA, and UNLF."

• September 29: BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary on September 29 urged the Central Government to hold talks with jailed Anti-Talks faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland NDFB-ATF leaders and accord them the same status and facilities as given to the ULFA-PTF headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa.

• September 28: ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia, currently at Rajshahi jail (Bangladesh) had refused to join the peace process between Central Government and Pro Talk faction of ULFA led by Arabinda Rajkhowa without ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah.

  Paresh Baruah has reportedly purchases arms, particularly Chinese-made, which are either locally manufactured under franchise by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) of Myanmar or part of the lot the Chinese People Liberation Army has discarded while overhauling its armory. Baruah then supplies them to CPI- Maoists through Nepal border.

• September 26: Citing intelligence inputs from top intelligence agency reports that ULFA- ATF 'chairman' Paresh Baruah received a massive consignment of arms and ammunition worth $2.5 million from China as recently as in May. The consignment includes 1,600 pieces of arms and ammunition, including AK-47s, rocket launchers, light machine guns and 800,000 rounds of ammunition were sent to Paresh Baruah from two units of National Ordinance Factory in North and South China. The consignment was loaded at South Chinese port of Beihai near Vietnam". It was then brought to the deep sea territory of Bangladesh near Moheshkhali Island. In mid-sea the consignment was shifted to three trawlers and then further transported to Bangladesh. Sources said that two Singapore nationals carried out the job, the input further adds that these men are said to be close to arms smugglers in the region and organize transport for such activities.

• September 25: Assam Police have asked the business community and tea industry officials not to take calls from a set of 12 phone numbers, which they suspect that the ULFA-ATF has been using to make extortion demands. Police sources said all the calls were made by a person who identified himself as Jiban Moran, a senior ULFA-ATF leader in-charge of the outfit's camps in Myanmar.

  ULFA and Maoists may try to disturb the public hearing of 3000 MW Dibang Multi Purpose Project scheduled to be held on October 24. In a security review meeting held on September 24 at Roing in Dibang valley District, Deputy Commissioner Garima Gupta and Superintendent of Police B Bansal disclosed that Maoists and some insurgent groups may have entered the District from neighboring Assam with the objective to disturb the impending public hearing, official sources said on September 25.

• September 22: India's Zee TV has published an exclusive report on September 21 quoting Indian security and intelligence that ULFA leader Paresh Baruah allegedly has widespread financial network in Bangladesh and has invested more than USD 20 million in a number of business ventures in Bangladesh. The report revealed that ULFA 'commander' has invested USD 7 million for acquiring 17 per cent share with Bashundhara Real Estate [East-West Properties] in Bangladesh and USD 3 million in Jamuna Group's housing project. He has also ventured into shipping, restaurant, hospital and textile industries. The counter-terrorism specialists are of the opinion that ULFA's monthly revenue accrued from the invested projects is above USD 9-8 million, if not more.

• September 21: SFs arrested a ULFA militant, identified as Upen Dihingia alias Chandra Dihingia, from near Kareng Dhaba at Naphuk under Charaideo Sub-Division in Sivasagar District.Police has recovered a copy of extortion letter from him.

• September 18: A group of suspected ULFA militants looted four rifles and some ammunition from two forest camps inside Dibru- Saikhowa reserve forest namely Mirichapori and Koliachapori in Tinsukia District. The Police were yet to confirm whether the militants belonged to the Pro-talks or Anti-Talks Faction of the ULFA.

  In a statement, ULFA-PTF 'Publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary said, "There is no truth in the news item that the outfit was planning to redraft the constitution to sideline Baruah".

• September 17: Two suspected militants and four linkmen of ULFA were arrested from West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya on September 17, while trying to infiltrate into Indian Territory from Bangladesh. Two Chinese-made pistols, three rounds of ammunition, three mobile phones, four Indian and Bangladeshi SIM cards, INR 23,800 in cash and 30 demand letters signed by self-styled 'sergeant major' Drishti Rajkhowa were recovered by the Police.

  Four Bangladeshi nationals believed to be ULFA linkmen arrested by the BSF from West Garo Hills District, three out of these four linkmen have confessed that were hardcore cadres of the ULFA, reports The Shillong Times. The militants have been identified as Subal Sangma (22), Linkeky Marak (19) and Raju Sangma (18) from Badagazini of Sherpur District in Bangladesh.

• September 16: The Director of IB, Nehchal Sandhu, said action would be taken against the ULFA-ATF in Upper Assam. Sandhu added that Paresh Baruah has enlisted the support of NSCN-k in Myanmar and support of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). He further said that the Government is, however, concerned about a worsening situation vis-à-vis Naga rebels in Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh and by the violence unleashed by the GNLA. Sandhu said, "A detailed plan for Tirap and Changlang has been drawn up."

  'Executive committee' of ULFA, which met in Guwahati city on September 16, adopted a resolution for making the changes as decided at the general council meeting held in Nalbari in July 31. The resolution is about bringing forth amendments to the ULFA's constitution, which will bring the command structure of the different battalions of ULFA by placing them under the 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, instead of 'Commander in Chief 'Paresh Baruah.

  four Bangladeshi nationals believed to be ULFA linkmen arrested by the BSF on September 17 from West Garo Hills District, three out of these four linkmen have confessed that were hardcore cadres of the ULFA, reports The Shillong Times. The militants have been identified as Subal Sangma (22), Linkeky Marak (19) and Raju Sangma (18) from Badagazini of Sherpur District in Bangladesh.

• September 15: ULFA-ATF has added 105 militants to its ranks drawn mainly from Tinsukia District. The new recruits are already undergoing training in Myanmar, these disclosures were made by Goluk Moran, an ULFA-ATF militant who joined the ULFA-PTF on September 3.

  An alleged ULFA linkman, identified as Ranjay Hajong (40), was arrested by BSF personnel in West Garo Hills District while he was trying to cross the border into India. Preliminary investigations revealed that Hajong had been working as a linkman since 2004 and facilitating cross-border movement of ULFA cadres. West Garo Hills shares a porous border with Bangladesh and in the past, several linkmen and cadres of the ULFA had been arrested by Police and BSF.

• September 12: SFs arrested Nabadeep Baishya, a militant belonging to the ULFA-ATF, from Barpura in Nalbari District.

  A powerful IED, weighing about 5 Kilograms, planted by suspected ULFA militants was detected and diffused by the Army, in the Wathoi village under Kakopathar Police Station in Tinsukia District.

• September 11: Myanmar army launched a second offensive in Sagaing province against various Indian militant groups, including ULFA, who have their bases there.

  Around 250 cadres of about 10 North-Eastern militant outfits, including ULFA-ATF, NSCN-K, PLA, PREPAK and UNLF, were present in camps at Sagaing in North Myanmar bordering India. Sources said the militant outfits have sent about 200 armed cadres as reinforcement to Myanmar.

  Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (North-East) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), said, "We haven't received any official information from the Myanmar Government. We are not sure if there is any casualty or arrests."

  The Myanmar Army had launched its first attack on September 7. There are reports that ULFA's mobile headquarters at Sagaing was destroyed in the attack. Unconfirmed reports said ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah and S.S Khaplang, the former 'chief' of NSCN-K, managed to escape unhurt. Besides Sagaing, ULFA has three other camps in Myanmar.

  In 2003, Bhutan's Operation All Clear had dealt a body blow to ULFA. The Royal Bhutan Army had destroyed at least 14 ULFA camps in a military operation in Bhutan's Samdrup Jongkhar.

  A statement issued on September 8 by ULFA faction led by Baruah said India has been urging all its neighbours to attack and destroy the outfit in return for money. "It is well known that India had given Bhutan Rs 1,000 crore [INR 10 billion] in aid for the military operation," the statement said. India also gave Bangladesh $ 1 billion loan to act against ULFA. "We have learnt that India has offered Rs 1,000 crore [INR 10 billion], if Myanmar can kill ULFA commander-in-chief and other leaders," it added.

• September 10: ULFA-ATF denied media reports that Paresh Barua and several cadres were injured during a raid by Myanmar's forces on a camp of the rebels in that country,. 'Publicity in-charge' of ULFA-ATF, Arunodoy Dohotiya in an email said, "Our leaders and cadres are safe and secure. News about our leaders being injured is not only false, but is a misinformation campaign by government agencies to mislead the people of Assam."

  ULFA and NSCN-K are planning to shift their camps in Myanmar amid reports of a crackdown by the Myanmarese army on them. The NSCN-K claimed that about 400 Myanmarese soldiers had moved into the area where its headquarters were located.

• September 9: Paresh Baruah (55), Chairman of ULFA-ATF, was injured when Myanmar's Army shot at him during a counter-insurgency operation on Indian insurgents in Myanmar along the Myanmar-China Border.

• September 8: SFs have confirmed the claim made by ULFA-ATF that the Myanmar's Army has launched an offensive against Indian militants holed up in the neighboring country.

• September 7: Myanmar Army personnel attacked the camp of ULFA-ATF. In an e-mailed statement chief of the central publicity unit of ULFA-ATF, Arundoy Dohotia, said: "The Myanmar army attacked our camp today. Nobody was injured, however, in the attack. We had prior information about this attack and hence were prepared for it. More such attacks are expected in the near future also."

  Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, M Ramachandran replying to a question about ULFA links with Pakistan-based organisations, including the ISI, stated that Government of India has conveyed to the neighbouring country that it must fulfil its commitment of not allowing territory under its control for aiding and abetting terrorist activities.

  Paresh Baruah slammed Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for ceding parts of the state's land to Bangladesh by an agreement and promised to intensify his fight for Assam's sovereignty. In an e-mailed statement Baruah said, "Tarun Gogoi did not have the courage to oppose the Centre's decision to hand over Assam's land to Bangladesh." Paresh Baruah also appealed to the people to oppose this move by the Government to give away state's land to Bangladesh.

• September 6: Police arrested a surrendered woman ULFA militant and her husband from their rented house at Gorchuk in Guwahati, on charges of extortion.

• September 5: SFs arrested one top ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Arup Baishya (20), at Dirak in the Hunjan Gate area under Kakopathar Police Station in Tinsukia District. One 7.65mm pistol, three live rounds and one mobile phone along with two SIM cards have been recovered from his possession. During interrogation, the militant confessed his involvement in grenade lobbing at Tihu Police Station on September 2.

• September 4: Central Intelligence agencies are worried that huge stockpiles of Chinese-made arms in possession of the ULFA-ATF may fall into the hands of CPI- Maoists.

• September 3: In the first step towards finding ways for ushering in permanent peace in Assam, a tripartite agreement for Suspension of Operations (SoO) was signed among the Centre, the Assam Government and the ULFA. The Union Government was represented by the Joint Secretary (North East), Home Ministry, and the Assam Government by the Home Commissioner. Shahdhar Chaudhuri, Chtraban Hazarika and Raju Barua, three key ULFA functionaries, represented the organisation, said an official release.

  Two militants - one each from ULFA and NDFB - surrendered to Police in N.Lakhimpur District. The ULFA militant was identified as Keshob Gogoi. The militants deposited two 7.65 pistols, four magazines, ammunition and two mobile handsets.

• September 2: A grenade was lobbed by the ULFA -ATF at the barrack of Tihu Police Station in Nalbari District, causing damage to the wall of the barrack. Police later caught a youth identified as Bakul Swargiary for the attack, although ULFA-ATF denied Swargiary's involvement in the incidence.

• September 1 : Government of India will ask the leaders of ULFA-PTF to submit a detailed list of its cadres in the meeting to be held in New Delhi on September 3.

  Central Government would not allow the ULFA leaders to carry weapons after the signing of the agreement for SoO and they would be provided PSO, if necessary.

• August 31: ULFA-ATF opposed the proposed move to exchange land between India and Bangladesh to resolve the boundary dispute. In a statement released by ULFA-ATF 'Publicity in-Charge', Arunudoi Dohotia, said, "The ULFA has strongly condemned the insulting statement of the central government's local representative Tarun Gogoi that some lands will be ceded to Bangladesh. His comment has insulted the history and geography of Assam and given a bad signal to the indigenous Assamese people".

  ULFA-ATF had remarked on the exchange of land between India and Bangladesh to resolve the boundary dispute between the two countries by saying that Government of India was going all out to please Bangladesh to ensure that the ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia can be forcibly brought back to India against his wishes.

  A delegation of ULFA-PTF leaders, led by 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on September 1 (today) to take part in a discussion for finalising the draft ground rules for Suspension of Operation against ULFA-PTF.

• August 30: Former Union home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said that ULFA 'Commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah had been trained by Pakistan's ISI and New Delhi was aware of the leader belonging to the outfit visiting Pakistan. Pillai said "Baruah has been trained by the ISI. He had visited Pakistan many times. Not only Paresh, many ULFA leaders had gone to Pakistan. But that's past."

• August 28: Government of Bangladesh is likely to hand over ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia, to Indian authorities before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka on September 6 and 7.

  The dialogue to pave the way for signing of the formal ceasefire agreement with ULFA-PTF is scheduled to be held on September 3 in New Delhi.

• August 27: SFs arrested a top militant belonging to the ULFA-ATF, identified as Tumoni Chetia (21), at Geliki of Nazira Subdivision in Sivasagar District.

  A ULFA linkman, identified as Ajit Sangma, was arrested by BSF when he illegally entered India from Bangladesh crossing over the border at Gopinathkilla in Meghalaya.

• August 26: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi saying that a formal ceasefire agreement will be signed with ULFA by September 2011.

  On the issue of extradition of ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia from Bangladesh, Tarun Gogoi said that the Central Government has taken up the matter with Bangladesh.

• August 24: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullapally Ramachandran saying that details of action initiated by the Government of Bangladesh for handing over Anup Chetia are not available. Hence no time frame can be indicated in this regard. He added that the matter is being pursued with the Government of Bangladesh.

• August 23: ULFA-ATF has recently procured at least 400 weapons, including AK- series rifles, M-20 pistols, remote controlled improvised explosive devices. It also reports that the ULFA-ATF has managed to get the weapons without payment of any money and it is suspected that the militant outfit received the weapons from China.

  Three ULFA linkmen were arrested from Sonitpur and North Lakhimpur Districts, when they were transferring INR 415,000 meant for wife of ULFA leader Jeevan Moran. Uddipan Chetia alias Prakash Chetia and Pabitra Phukan were arrested by Biswanath Police in Sonitpur District, while Madhu Satula was arrested from Narayanpur in North Lakhimpur District.

  All Assam Surrendered ULFA Samittee 'president' Rajkumar Duarah addressing a press conference in Guwahati said, "In the name of peace talks, the government has divided the ULFA into two factions - one led by Paresh Baruah and the other by Arabinda Rajkhowa. We are against this division". He further said, "We do not agree with the charter of demands submitted recently by the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction to the Centre."

• August 18: ULFA-PTF wants its 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia, who is in a Bangladesh jail, to be part of the delegation when the group starts the first round of discussion with the Government of India, on the charter of demands which it submitted on August 5.

  Hiranya Saikia, former member of PCG, who took the initiative for bringing the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to the negotiation table in 2005 said that the people of Assam wanted dialogue with all the members of the ULFA and not only with one faction of the outfi. He said that talks without participation of ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah would not help in bringing lasting solution to the problems and Pro-Talk faction leaders of the ULFA should have waited for the return of ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia before starting the process of talks with the Government.

• August 15: suspected militants of the ULFA-ATF blew up a railway track in Darrangiri near Goalpara Town. The blast damaged a 10m stretch of the broad gauge track.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called upon Paresh Barua, 'Chairman' of the ULFA-ATF, to join the ongoing peace process. Tarun Gogoi said "Every underground and insurgent group has realised the futility of violence. While most of them including the pro-talk faction of ULFA led by Arabinda Rajkhowa have come forward for peace talks, I appeal to Paresh Barua's faction to come out and become part of the peace process." He further said "Talks alone can lead to permanent peace, and we have left no stone unturned to bring different groups to the negotiations. We have already announced suspension of operations against various groups including United People's Democratic Solidarity [UPDS], Black Widow[BW], DHD (N), Adivasi Cobra Force[ACF], Birsa Commando Force[BCF], Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front [KLNLF], Pro-Talks Faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland [NDFB-PTF] and the ULFA faction led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. The Anti-Talks Faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland [NDFB-ATF] has announced a unilateral ceasefire."

• August 14: Central Government is trying to open a channel of communication with ULFA-ATF 'Chairman' Paresh Baruah with the help of his friends of non-militant background in order to persuade him to join the ongoing peace process between the government and the Pro-talks faction of ULFA.

• August 12; A former ULFA militant, Subhas Barman, was killed on August 12 by suspected KLO militants at Kherbari under Golokganj Police Station in Dhubri District.

  SFs recovered a powerful IED weighing almost 5 kilograms from a suspected NDFB-ATF militant Kumud Gwayari (25) at Pancharatna railway station in Goalpara District. During interrogation, the suspected militant said that the IED was to be delivered at Bongaigoan to Azad Baruah, a militant belonging to the ULFA-PTF, who is said to be involved in illegal business and running extortion rackets. SFs also recovered a letter which instructed him to carry out the job sincerely.

• August 11: Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce has appealed to its members to immediately inform Police if extortion threats were received from ULFA or any other militant outfit.

  SFs arrested an ULFA cadre, Lachit Das from Jorhat Town. Confession from the arrested militant led to the arrest of another ULFA militant identified as Arup Konwar from Sonari in Sivasagar District. Police recovered a China-made bottle grenade from him.

• August 10: ULFA linkman was arrested at Bhadoi Panchali under Duliajan Police Station in Dibrugarh District.

  commenting upon ULFA-PTF' chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa's reported statement that the ULFA procured weapons and also had taken the help of the Pakistani Government as well as Inter Services Intelligence(ISI), ULFA-ATF 'chairman' Paresh Baruah said, "This allegation is completely baseless and such reports have been made with a purpose. It is nothing new that such malicious negative publicity is given to the ULFA, but this time chairman Rajkhowa has been quoted….We challenge those making such claims to prove with direct or indirect evidence that we took weapons and other help from Pakistani fundamentalists or the ISI," He further said: "Since the day the ULFA started its armed struggle, such malicious campaigns have been launched against us by the colonial rulers and they will continue to do so.

  On the controversy over 'Publicity Secretary' of ULFA-ATF' 'Lieutenant' Arunudoy Dohutia issuing press statements on behalf of the ULFA, Baruah said, "There is no cause for debate on the existence of the convener of the ULFA central publicity wing. Whatever statement he issues is the present status of the ULFA."

• August 9: During the last two decades ULFA received help from ISI and Bangladeshi agencies. ULFA 'Foreign Secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury, who joined ULFA in 1985, said, "Pakistan's ISI trained ULFA. In 1991, I was part of the first batch of ULFA members to go to Pakistan for training in small arms, including main battle rifles." He further said "Soon after joining, we had trained with the Nagas of the undivided NSCN. In 1988, we were the second batch of ULFA who went over to Kachin in Myanmar. We fought along with KIA for two years and shared their guns." Choudhary also said that Individuals in various Bangladeshi agencies helped ULFA with logistics and support, "I had Bangladeshi national ID card issued by their army and passports of several countries, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Fiji and South Africa." Regarding China's role he said "The Chinese sold ULFA weapons but indirectly. They are not fools to train insurgents or get directly involved."

  GOC of Tezpur based 4 Corps, 'Lieutenant General' Shakti Gurung, expressed hope that ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah would come to the mainstream very soon.

  ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa denied there was a split in the group and also claimed that 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah too wanted a solution to the conflict. Rajkhowa said "There is no split in the ULFA. There are no factions. It is only the media which says one faction is led by Paresh Baruah and another by Arabinda Rajkhowa. Paresh Baruah as the 'commander-in-chief' of our organisation may want a military solution and I as the head of the organisation want a political solution... but both of us want a solution to the conflict". Asked if he has spoken with Baruah to be present at the peace talks, he said, "He is interested, but has doubts about how much we can trust the Government of India. Besides, he has never himself opposed the talks. It is only a person by the name of Arun Udoy Dohotia who issues press statements opposing the talks".

• August 8: The Chittagong Court on August 8 fixed September 7 for submitting report on execution of arrest warrant against ULFA leader Paresh Baruah, absconding accused in the Chittagong 10 Truck Arms case. Public Prosecutor Kamal Uddin Ahmad said that the Court order to arrest Paresh Baruah was sent to the Foreign Ministry to forward it to the separatist leader's village home at Dibrugarh in Indian state of Assam.

• August 7: SFs arrested four ULFA linkmen from Sualkuchi in Kamrup District who were attempting to collect INR 500,000 as extortion money from a businessman. The arrested persons were identified as Maniran Kalita, Barun Das, Banjit Das and Jakir Hussain. An extortion demand note was also recovered from their possession.

  ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa said that Pakistani fundamentalists had lent support to the group in the past.

• August 6: In a meeting held among representatives of the Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce, tea industry and the Police in Jorhat, Police warned the tea and business communities not to concede to extortion demands and to inform the Police immediately if any demands were made.

• August 5: One ULFA militant, identified as Jayanta Roy alias Sudhir (28), was arrested by SFs from Dhubri District. one .303 pistol, 3 round live ammunition, one mobile hand set, two mobile SIMs and two extortion notes was recovered from him.

  ULFA-PTF sought amendment in the Constitution of India for finding "meaningful" ways to protect the rights and identity of indigenous people of Assam dropping its earlier demand of Sovereign. In the 'charter of demands' submitted to the Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Arabinda Rajkhowa, the Chairman of ULFA-PTF, said that "We demand Constitutional and political arrangements and reforms, including protection of the identity and material resources of indigenous population of Assam". On the issue of Paresh Baruah's (ULFA-ATF) opposition to any dialogue with the Government if 'sovereignty' issue is not on the table, ULFA-PTF 'Foreign Secretary' Shashadhar Choudhury said, "Baruah himself is yet to make any comment about the peace process. We hope that one day he will join in the talks," he said adding that of late there has been no contact with Baruah and he is "probably" living in Myanmar now. On the fate of 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia, who has been in detention in Bangladesh since 1997, Shashadhar Choudhury said, "the government of India officials told us that Chetia will be in India in soon, may be in weeks."

• August 4: SFs on August 3 arrested one ULFA militant, identified as Manuranjan Pegu, at Jengraimukh in Majuli Sub-Division of Jorhat District.

  AAGSU, apex body of Gorkha youths and students of Assam, on August 4 urged the Pro-Talks leaders of ULFA to negotiate the best in lieu of sovereignty and wished them best of luck, reports Shillong Times.

• August 3: A delegation ULFA headed by 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, and comprising of 'vice chairman' Pradeep Gogoi, 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury, 'finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika, 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka, 'deputy commander in chief' Raju Baruah and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary will go to New Delhi on August 4 to submit a charter of demands to the Government of India to pave the way for formal talks with the Government.

• August 1: Extortion activity of ULFA-ATF has increased in recent times at Moran under Dibrugarh District and Mahmora in Sivasagar District. ULFA-ATF has slapped huge extortion notes demanding amounts between INR 100000 to INR 7million, to tea garden owners, businessmen, Oil India Limited (OIL) employees and even to some teachers allegedly signed by 'lieutenant' B Das and 'lieutenant' Jitu Bora of ULFA-ATF.

  Special Metropolitan Tribunal-1 in Chittagong, rejected bail to six people, including Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, in two cases relating to smuggling of 10-truck arms in Chittagong. The haul, largest ever in Bangladesh, was reportedly destined for rebels of Indian separatist group ULFA. The court fixed August 8 as the next date for hearing in the two cases.

  The Tribunal also asked the authorities to submit reports on the arrest warrant for two newly charge-sheeted accused--ULFA leader Paresh Barua and former Additional Secretary of Industries Ministry Nurul Amin--both of whom are absconding.

  India has requested Bangladesh to hand over "as early as possible" banned ULFA's 'general secretary' Anup Chetia. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram stated that, "Anup Chetia is in jail. There is a case against him so it's tied up with what the court will do. But we have made a request that Anup Chetia should be handed over to India as early as possible." Chidambaram also complimented the Bangladeshi leadership for extending "splendid" cooperation in apprehending insurgent commanders.

• July 30: A ULFA cadre, Tapan Borkakati (32), was arrested in a joint operation by Police and the Army from Sakadol village under Mushalpur Police Station in Baksa District. Police said he was involved in extortion in the area.

  Bangladesh is looking for ULFA leader Paresh Barua and wants to arrest him in connection with the 2004 Chittagong arms haul. Bangladesh Home Minister Sahara Khatun stated: "Yes, Paresh Barua is wanted in Bangladesh, and we have served an Interpol Red Corner Notice against him. We are searching for him...I don't know (if Paresh Barua is in Bangladesh)...if he is found in Bangladesh we shall arrest him." She further promised to root out terrorism from Bangladesh and admitted the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence ISI is active in Bangladesh.

• July 29: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram is likely to formally seek extradition of ULFA 'General Secretary' Anup Chetia who has completed his jail term in Bangladesh.

• July 28: Suspected ULFA militants abducted Bhagawati Prasad Sarma and Bijoy Sarma near Tarani reserve forest under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District. Bijoy Sarma was, however, released later on the same day.

• July 27: Suspected ULFA-ATF militants exploded a grenade on July 27 (ULFA Martyrs' Day) near DDR College at Chabua in Dibrugarh District. Police said four shops were partially damaged while no one was injured in the attack.

  In another incident, a powerful bomb was defused by the Police at a bus station in Dhubri Town.

  ULFA-PTF observed 'Martyrs' Day' at their designated camp at Kakopathar in Tinsukia District.

  ULFA-PTF 'finance secretary' Chitrabon Hazarika on July 27 said, "The charter of demands is almost ready and it will be finalized within a couple of days." He further said, "We will submit the charter of demands to the Centre soon."

  SFs Arrested one ULFA militant, Lachit Khanikar, and a linkmen in Tinsukia District. One Pistol and two Chinese grenades were seized from them.

  Arrested 'Publicity Secretary' ULFA-ATF Rittik Hazarika alias `Lieutenant' Arun Udoy Dehotia informed interrogators that Paresh Baruah was holed up in Myanmar's Kachin State and he was part of a ULFA mobile camp in Nagaland's Mon District which has around 6 to 7 cadres under senior Nayan Medhi. Hazarika had arrived in Sonitpur for a recruitment drive and to understand the people's reaction to the news of ceasefire by ULFA-PTF and the proposed peace talks between Central Government and ULFA-PTF.

  Arabinda Rajkhowa 'chairman' ULFA-PTF said, "A majority of the people of the state have formed an opinion that Assam's existence can be protected only within a sovereign country of Assam." He added, "The people of Assam believe that one or two constitutional amendments will not guarantee protection of Assam's existence."

• July 26: SFs arrested 'Publicity Secretary' of ULFA -ATF Rittik Hazarika alias `Lieutenant' Arun Udoy Dehotia, at Gingia of Biswanath subdivision in Sonitpur District. One 9-mm pistol along with two magazines and two mobile phones has been recovered from his possession. Meanwhile, ULFA-ATF has claimed that Rittik Hazarika and Arun Udoy Dohotia were two different persons but also confirmed Rittik Hazarika as one of its members. Police, however, is non-committal on the identity of the arrested cadre.

• July 24: ULFA-ATF is eyeing to strike Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Golaghat Districts in the upper Assam ahead of the Independence Day. A 10-12 member group of the ULFA-ATF has managed to enter recently into India from its bases in Myanmar and taking refuge in the hill areas along Assam-Nagaland and Assam-Arunachal borders. The militants are believed to be somewhere in the Mon District of Nagaland, waiting to enter Assam through the Charaideo sub-division of Sivasagar District. It is also reported that a heavily armed group led by one Pradip Gogoi [not to be confused with Vice-President Pradip Gogoi of (ULFA-PTF)] has been given the tasks of hitting public sector including ONGC and attack the security establishments.

  A senior Pro ULFA-PTF leader, saying that ULFA-PTF has not included the demand for a sovereign Assam in its charter of demands prepared for next month's first direct negotiations between ULFA-PTF and the Government.

  SFs arrested suspected ULFA-ATF militant Suren Mura alias Khagra (40) along with three of his relatives Sanjay Karmakar (35), Ajoay Karmakar (19), and Ajoy Mura (28) from Samdung Tea Estate under Panikhowa Division in Tinsukia District. SFs recovered a Chinese AK 81 with 116 rounds of bullets during the process.

• July 22: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Assam ministers are on militant hit list and also confirmed the reported merger of Anti-Talks Faction of United Liberation Front of Asom ULFA-ATF, PLA, and other North-Eastern militant groups in Myanmar. In this regard Tarun Gogoi said, "It is true that Paresh Baruah is taking help from Manipuri's PLA now. I have been informed of this by central intelligence agencies. Security forces have been put on a high alert as the ULFA-PLA joint operation is planning major strikes. There is threat to some of my ministers, but I don't want to name them."

  Also, Security agencies have learnt that the two groups of ULFA-ATF-PLA militants have entered Sivasagar and Tinsukia Districts through Mon District of Nagaland to carry out attack on oil installations (particularly pipelines), railway oil tankers and Security Forces (SFs). The group that has entered Tinsukia has about 30 cadres divided into smaller groups that are concentrating only in the District.

  Union Government has decided to hold direct peace talks with ULFA and the first round of the proposed dialogue would be held at the secretary level. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "The Centre will now directly talk to ULFA." he added" ULFA has to first give us its charter of demands. The Union Government and the State Government will give their opinions after going through the charter. We will tell them how far we can accommodate their demands," Gogoi said. The Chief Minister said Haldar has bought the peace process to the final stage. "The Centre should now step in and hold direct talks with the outfit".

  SFs found fake ULFA letterheads in a passenger bus at Baihata Chariali in Kamrup District

• July 20: Two-day anti-terrorism Peace Convention, held under the aegis of "The Terror Victim's Family Forum of Assam", an umbrella organization of victims of militancy, attended by 500 'victims' families at the Sivasagar Natya Mandir in Sivasagar District. Former president of Axom Xahitya Xabha Kanak Sen Deka, who was attending the convention as chief guest, said, "ULFA has created a new trend in the insurgency-infested Northeast by killing people and triggering blasts in public places and busy localities. The ULFA also did not hesitate to kill innocent school children who had gathered to observe Independence Day. Compared to other northeastern militant groups like the NSCN, who have refrained from killing people, ULFA has been doing this even at the cost of erosion of its mass base." Speaking on the occasion, senior journalist Ramen Kumar Goswami said, "The ULFA must shun violence and its armed activities. If the ULFA were to rethink its demand for sovereignty, then, peace is possible."

• July 19: Suspected ULFA-ATF militants ambushed Assam Rifles personnel escorting a school bus at Bailung Gaon near Kenduguri in Simaluguri area of Sivasagar District. Militants lobbed grenade and opened fire on Assam Rifles personnel. Later Security Forces (SFs) arrested Vijay Manki (28) alias Dipak Gowala from the area of the ambush.

  ULFA-ATF has started using members of Manipuri militant outfits, PLA to indulge in acts of violence in Assam, particularly in the upper Assam Districts and might plan to indulge in major acts of violence in the run up to the Independence Day celebrations.

  ULFA-PTF has started work for the first designated camp at Baniakuchi in Tihu in Nalbari District and nine more camps of similar nature will be constructed. In this regard ULFA-PTF 'foreign secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury said "These camps will be christened 'Assam Naba Nirman' and all our cadres will stay here".

• July 18: 40 ULFA-ATF militants, trained by KIA, are trying to enter the State before Independence Day by crossing the Patkai hills from Lohit and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

• July 17: Silvister Tirki alias Rajiv alias Silva Orang revealed that the explosives used in the blast that derailed the Guwahati-Puri Express were procured from the heavy artillery shooting range of the Army at Tamulpur in Baksa District and coal mines in Meghalaya. He further revealed that APA received help from the ULFA during its formation and several militants of the outfit were even given training by militants of ULFA while APA did not enjoy good relations with NDFB.

• July15: SFs recovered and neutralised two IEDs, weighing between 10 and 12 kilogrammes each, suspected to be planted by ULFA-ATF, at Medalajan area of Sivasagar District.

  Peace talks with ULFA-PTF are going to start from August 2011, Times of India reports. Centre's interlocutor for peace talks in Assam P C Haldar said on July 15, "The peace process entered a new stage after Ulfa announced a unilateral ceasefire (on Tuesday). This is a positive development and we are inching closer to the final stage. We expect the peace talks to start in August". He further said "The entire process to find a solution may take some time. Anything done at a breakneck speed may not yield a permanent solution." On the issue of ground rules and modalities, he said, "The Government and ULFA have to decide how to go about it and ensure that there's no ambiguity in the entire process."

• July 14: 'central publicity secretary' of the ULFA-PTF 'Mithinga Daimary said that that the unilateral cease fire was not a personal decision of the ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa. He further said that two-third members of the ULFA are in favour of political solution to the conflicts, while; as per the constitution of the ULFA, only the 'chairman' is authorized to comment on behalf of the outfit. He also said that 99 per cent of people of Assam want negotiated solution to the conflicts.

• July 13: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram acknowledged the ceasefire announced by ULFA-PTF in Assam and said "The Government of India welcomes the announcement made by the ULFA," adding that "The Government of India in consultation with the Government of Assam will facilitate an early start to the talks". The Home Minister said it was expected that a SoO agreement will be signed and ground rules for observing the agreement will be finalised in the near future.

  Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi welcomed the ceasefire declared by ULFA-PTF and said that the State government would take all steps to carry forward the peace process. The Chief Minister further stated that the State Government has also invited the Paresh Baruah faction of the ULFA to take part in peace negotiations, but will not be kept waiting indefinitely. Peace talks with the faction are possible provided it renounces the path of violence, he said.

  Meanwhile, Paresh Baruah 'chairman' of ULFA-ATF has said that he will not abide by the cease-fire declared by ULFA-PTF.

• July 12: ULFA-PTF 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa declared unilateral and indefinite cease-fire with the Government. He said that in the interest of creating a congenial atmosphere for talks, he declared a unilateral ceasefire. He called upon all the members of the ULFA to abide by the cease-fire and warned that any infringement would be treated as anti-organizational act and would be dealt with accordingly. He noted that the 5th general council of the organisation, held on February 22 2010, deliberated upon various dimensions of the armed struggle launched by the ULFA since 1979 for independence of Assam. The meeting decided to respect the desire of vast majority of people of Assam for peaceful solution to the issues and authorized the chairman to declare ceasefire whenever required for talks with the Government.

• July 10: 'Chairman' of ULFA-ATF, Paresh Barua, condemned blast that derailed the Guwahati-Puri Express at Bhatkuchi in Kamrup (Rural) District.

  ULFA-ATF has appointed Drishti Rajkhowa for fund collection from the Districts of Goalpara, Dhubri, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar.

• July 9: Documents and explosive material recovered by the Police from the GNLA transit camp in Nengmalgre forest, East Garo Hills District have revealed links between the GNLA and ULFA. GNLA 'military chief' Sohan D Shira, along with 12 armed cadres of his outfit and three ULFA militants, left behind 2 kg of explosive material and a number of incriminating documents while fleeing from the transit camp during an encounter with the police on July 8. Apart from Shira, GNLA 'area commander's Savio Marak and Rakstar Sangma and other militants were taking shelter in the camp. The police overran the transit camp after over half-an-hour gun battle. Though the militants managed to escape, the recovery of explosives and incriminating documents unveiled GNLA-ULFA links. The three ULFA men in question are said to be associates of ULFA- ATF leader Dristi Rajkhowa. Dristi Rajkhowa is functioning from the Resubelpara, Goalpara and Kamrup areas of Assam in order to maintain the outfit's links with the GNLA and to use the Garo Hills belt as a transit route to Bangladesh.

• July 8: SFs produced one ULFA militant, Gajen Konwar alias Samudra Nirmolia, before the Dibrugarh court. The militant claimed that he had surrendered himself at the Army camp at Chowkham in Arunachal Pradesh on July 2.

  ULFA-ATF 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua has appointed Pranmoy Asom as the 'foreign secretary' of ULFA-ATF. ULFA-ATF publicity in-charge Arunodoy Dohotiya in an e-mailed statement said that the 'foreign secretary' will be responsible for strengthening ties with Far East and South Eastern countries sympathetic to the ULFA cause.

• July 7: Bangladesh authorities have launched a manhunt to arrest Champion R. Sangma, the leader of the GNLA, an Indian militant leader, after Meghalaya (India) Police confirmed he has shifted base to Bangladesh, reports Newsone.com. Champion, who wants to fight for a 'sovereign Garoland' in the western area of Meghalaya, has forged a close operational relationship with other northeast-based insurgents groups such as ULFA and NDFB.

• July 5: Anti-talks faction of ULFA-ATF with instructions from senior ULFA-ATF leader Jibon Moran has started recruiting school dropouts. A source said, "The cash incentive, which is given right at the time of joining, ranges between INR 1,000 and INR 6,000. Moreover, the cadres are also promised monthly pay once they are trained and are fit for operations,"

  ULFA leader 'Major' Ranjan Chowdhury (48) and his alleged Bangladeshi accomplice Pradip Marak (58) were produced in a court in Kishoreganj District. Earlier on July 17, 2010, acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-9 arrested both of them along with two pistols, four bullets, bomb making materials and four fresh bombs from in front of Abedin Hospital at Lakkipur area of Bhairab in the same District.

  ULFA 'chief' Paresh Baruah's and his business associates' assets and investments in Bangladesh will be confiscated as asked by the Government. Security sources have said that Tarique Rahman, son of Opposition leader Khaleda Zia, has been identified as one of the ULFA chief's business associates. The objective of the Government is twofold: to expose Tarique Rahman's nexus with Indian insurgent groups and also to choke the flow of Bangladeshi funds to the ULFA 'chief'. The security sources also confirmed that Baruah was shuttling between Myanmar and frontier areas of China, and that his position in Myanmar was secure with NSCN-K 'chief' S. S. Khaplang offering support.

  An ULFA militant, identified as Palash Hazarika alias Pawan Hazarika, involved in extortion and also suspected to be the bodyguard of the leader of the ULFA-ATF Paresh Barua, surrendered before the SFs along with an AK-56 rifle and six grenades at Chetia Pathar in Chabua of Dibrugarh District.

• July 4: Peace talks between ULFA and Central Government, Central Government appointed peace interlocutor P C Haldar said "I am positive on the peace talks," and stressed on peace as the backbone for development.

• July 3: SFs killed 'corporal' Horen Sonowal alias Narendra and arrested Sijanto Moran of anti-talks faction of ULFA-ATF along with one AK-56 rifle, five live rounds, a Chinese grenade, three electronic detonators and INR 50,000 from Ratanpur under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District.

  ULFA-ATF refuted the claim made by Ranjan Daimary of NDFB-ATF about the soft approach by the SFs towards ULFA. ULFA-ATF publicity-in-charge, Arunudoi Dohotia in this regard said "Daimary's recent statement that the government was soft on ULFA but was continuing operations against NDFB was not only incorrect but also misleading. It is true that a section of our outfit (ULFA) is enjoying the protection of the government and operations have been suspended against them but security forces have actually intensified operations against those who are committed to the spirit and ideals of the outfit".

  With ULFA-ATF deadline to Shiv Vani Oil and Gas Services Pvt Ltd. to leave Assam ending on July 18, Security measures have been beefed up at all the projects sites of the company. The company has four oil rigs in collaboration with the ONGC in Sivasagar District and five in collaboration with OIL in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts. It has a project office in Duliajan in Dibrugarh District and a base office in Tinsukia.

• June 30: Suspected militants of ULFA-ATF killed a trader Shiwji Sahini (62), at No. 3 Shantipur under Chapakhowa Police station of Sadiya sub-division in Tinsukia District.

• June 29: A Bangladesh court has issued an arrest warrant against Paresh Barua, 'chief' of the separatist ULFA in relation with Chittagong Arms haul case of April 2 2004.

• June 28: The Assam Police have alerted Nagaland Police about the possible use of Mon District by the ULFA-ATF to carry out attack in Assam.

• June 26: From last November to June this year ULFA-ATF is said to have recruited about 100 youths from Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasgar Districts and 30 of them have re-entered. They have been involved in two encounters and also involved in extortion at Upper Assam, Changlang and Lohit Districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

  Charges have been pressed against 11 new suspects including former State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar and JeI Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami in two cases filed in connection with the 10-truck arms haul in Chittagong on April 2, 2004, reports Daily Star. The investigation officer on June 26 stated that, the arms produced in Chinese factory Norinco were to be transported to India for Assamese separatist group ULFA.

  Apart from Babar and Nizami, ULFA leader Paresh Barua, former Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Brigadier General (retired) Abdur Rahim, the then Director of the DGFI Major General (retired) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, who was later appointed as the DG of NSI, are on both the charge sheets.

  The others are former NSI Director Wing Commander (retired) Shahab Uddin, ex-NSI Deputy Director Major (retired) Liakat Hossain, ex-NSI Field Officer Akbar Hossain Khan, former Additional Secretary of Industries Ministry Nurul Amin, ex-CUFL Managing Director Mohsin Talukder and former CUFL General Manager (administration) Enamul Hoque. All 11 new suspects except ULFA leader Paresh, and Nurul Amin are in prison, said the investigator.

  UPDF rejected the bill of fifteenth amendment to the Constitution. They criticised the Government's move to keep 'Bismillah' in the Preamble and Islam as State Religion in the Constitution. Terming the bill controversial, the president of UPDF Prosit Khisha in a written statement said ethnic communities of Bangladesh will not accept the Bangalee nationality. They further said activities of AL are as same as BNP and JeI.

  Blitz Comprehensive Tabloid Weekly reports that Hizbut Tawhid openly declares its publication named 'Dajjal' as "anti-Christ" and is spreading the content of this book, which is filled with hate speech against Christians, Jews and non-Muslims, via Facebook and other social networks. All such illegal activities are conducted from its headquarters in Dhaka. It also maintains close links with various Islamist militancy outfits including Taliban, LeT, Sipah-e-Sahaba, al-Qaeda etc. This group is funded by dubious Arab sources as well as some fanatic Muslims in the Muslim dominated nations in the world.

  Founder of Hizbut Tawhid, Bayezid Khan Panni aka Selim Panni was a collaborator of Pakistani occupation forces during the war of independence of Bangladesh. It is even apprehended that, Hizbut Tawhid is a brainchild of ISI, as in most cases, Panni pronounced his support towards separatist groups as well as ISI-patronized Islamists in India. Hizbut Tawhid has also expanded its network in a number of Asian countries in the recent years.

  Hizbut Tawhid also owns pages in Facebook including : Hezbut Tawheed, Dajjal and True Islam, Ayman Bin Moshi, This Islam Is Not Islam [Jihadist content], Dajjal The Judeo-Christian Civilization, Islam, Islam and Dajjal, Anti Dajjal, Dajjal Documentary, Awareness of Dajjal, Beware of Dajjal, Dajjal Representative etc.

• June 24: SFs have warned ULFA-PTF that they could come under attack from ULFA-ATF. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Eastern range), Anurag Tankha, told that there was information about the ULFA (ATF) trying to regroup in Mon District of Nagaland, bordering Sivasagar District and cadres of ULFA-PTF could be their main targets

• June 22: SFs arrested two ULFA militants, identified as Bolen Moran and Birudh Gogoi (20), from Dhola in Tinsukia District. One AK 81 rifle, 30 rounds of live bullets, mobile phones and documents were recovered from their possession. One of the militant 'Birudh Gogoi' confessed to his involvement in the firing case at Bogribarigaon in Tinsukia District on June 6.

• June 21: During the 2009 anti -ULFA operations in Bangladesh, a seizure of more than 500 weapons was made.

  Union Government is trying to pursue the ULFA-ATF led by Paresh Barua to sit for talks, reports. ULFA-ATF is reportedly based on the Taga area of Myanmar and has found itself in the middle of the fight between Kachin militants and Myanmar's Government forces.

  An IED was recovered from Teok Habigaon in the Sonari area in Sivasagar District on June 21. The IED weighed about 5 kilograms. The ULFA-ATF is suspected behind the incident. The IED was later diffused by the SFs.

• June 20: ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa sounded optimistic about the proposed peace talks with the Centre, and said that the talks would usher in peace and progress in the State, Rajkhowa further said that hectic correspondence was going on to include the outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah in the dialogue. He expressed confidence that the Anti-Talk Faction would also join the peace process.

• June 19: Deputy 'commander-in-chief 'Raju Baruah of ULFA-PTF said that ULFA-PTF was set to declare ceasefire formally to pave the way for Peace Talks with the Centre. He said that that general council decided to declare ceasefire either by the end of this month or the first week of July. The ceasefire declaration by ULFA-PTF was expected soon after some formalities are completed. This will be followed by signing of the suspension of operation between the Government and ULFA-PTF. This may happen either in the third or fourth week of July. The ceasefire ground rules will be finalized at the same time,'' he said.

• June 16: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met Home Minister P Chidambaram to work out the modalities of talks with ULFA. The meeting, held at the North Block, was also joined by Joint Secretary (North-east), Shambhu Singh.

  Vice President of ULFA-ATF), Pradip Gogoi said that Arabinda Rajkhowa-led ULFA was ready to declare ceasefire with the Government for the sake of peace talks and Rajkhowa was having the power to take any decision on peace talks.

• June 15: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the next round of dialogue between the ULFA-PTF and Government of India is likely to be held in a couple of months' time after they write a formal letter to Government of India expressing their intention to sit for negotiation.

• June 14: Security in Upper Assam was reviewed and beefed up following a threat by ULFA-ATF to non-Assamese people residing in the state.

• June 13: ULFA-ATF threatened to target Indian citizens from various parts of the country residing in Assam if "killings of innocent indigenous people of Assam by SFs do not stop.

• June 11: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ULFA cadres would have to formally sign a ceasefire accord vowing suspension of operations, before the peace talks takes a concrete shape. "Everything would be done as per the norms and even though they have come over ground formal announcement of ceasefire from both the sides would be a necessity," Gogoi said, while replying to a question at a press conference. Gogoi also informed that the Ranjan Daimary-faction of the (NDFB) has expressed its willingness to meet him to discuss certain issues, to which he had obliged. "I will meet them within this month and ask them to submit a report to facilitate talks. Our stand is the same even with the BW). We welcome talks but those who resort to violence would be dealt with firmly," the Chief Minister added.

  A ULFA militant, identified as Akon Sonowal, was shot dead during an encounter with the Police at Uvotajan village near Krishna tea estate under Digboi Police Station in Tinsukia District. The militant hailed from Mahadevpur Police Station area in Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh. Police recovered one 9mm pistol, four live rounds and empty rounds from the site of the encounter.

• June 9: The NIA will be filing cases against the four ULFA militants and the seven PLA militants who were arrested from different parts of Guwahati recently.

• June 6: An army officer, Lt Manoj Misra, was injured in an encounter with a group of ULFA cadres near the Koilamati during a search operation against ULFA militants under Digboi Police Station in Upper Assam's Tinsukia District.

  Some militants loyal to Paresh Baruah may launch attacks in three upper Assam Districts. Sources in Security agencies said ULFA hawks are trying to sneak into Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar Districts from neighbouring Nagaland and Aruanchal Pradesh and may cause damage with the help of some other groups. "They are trying to sneak into Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts from two neighbouring states which share borders with Myanmar. Inputs revealed that they may launch attacks in these Districts to make their presence felt," said a senior security officer.

• June 4: A self-styled 'lieutenant corporal' of the ULFA, Gona Sarania (24), was killed in an encounter with Security Forces at Thalkuchi under Borbori Police Station in Baksa District One Ak-47 series rifle, one pistol, 30 live rounds of ammunition and 10 empty cartridges were recovered from the possession of the slain militants.

• June 3: ULFA militant identified as Susen Tanti, alias Rajesh Tanti surrendered before Security Forces (SFs) in Dibrugarh District. He handed over a magazine and a bullet during his surrender.

  ULFA-ATF served a 'quit notice' to a private oil and gas company in Assam alleging that they were exploiting the State's natural resources against the local people's interest, reports Assam Tribune. "We are giving them the notice to stop all their operations in the State and leave within one and half months from June 3, said an ULFA statement on the quit notice to Shiv-Vani Oil and Gas Exploration Services Ltd.

  Security agencies refused to allow family of 'commander-in-chief' of ULFA-ATF, Paresh Baruah to India from Bangladesh. Baruah fled the neighbouring country months before the top ULFA leaders, including 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, were held and sent back to India in November 2009. An official said that we know that his wife and children are in Dhaka. But we do not want to see them deported to India. Once they are back home, Baruah will be a relieved man. He certainly will not like his family to live a life of uncertainty in a foreign country. And we believe this will keep him under pressure.

• June 2: Two ULFA militants, identified as Abhoy Gogoi (25) and Akon Borgohain (25), sustained serious injuries in an encounter with SFs at Tamulibari Gaon in Dibrugarh District.

• May 26: SFs arrested a ULFA militant from Merapani area in Golaghat District. The arrestee was identified as Palashjyoti Baruah. SFs recovered a 9mm pistol, bullets of AK-47 rifles, .22mm pistol, an IED, two mobile handsets and some incriminating documents with ULFA stamps from him.

  Two militant outfits accused the Government of India of giving "preferential treatment" to the ULFA-PTF and demanded that the laws should be equal for all, reports Assam Tribune. Highly placed official sources said that the NDFB-PTF recently sent a letter to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh alleging that same rules were not applied in case of all the militant outfits of the region. Sources said that another militant outfit Black Widow also echoed similar sentiments in a letter to the Government of India.

• May 25: 'Chairman' of the ULFA-PTF 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa publicly sought forgiveness for the killing of 10 children and three women in a bomb blast in Dhemaji District on August 15, 2004. Rajkhowa, at a public meeting in Dhemaji town, where 'foreign secretary' Sasa Choudhury, 'political advisor' Bhimkanta Buragohain and 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka were also present asked for forgiveness from the families of the victims and the people.

• May 24: 'Chairman' of the ULFA-PTF, Arabinda Rajkhowa said that the outfit will make the people of Assam aware of its charter of demands before submitting it to the Government of India to start the process of formal talks on May 24. Talking to the Assam Tribune, Rajkhowa said that the people of Assam have the right to know what the ULFA would demand for political solution of the conflicts. Although the ULFA was yet to set any deadline for finalizing the demand charter, Rajkhowa asserted that it would be ready before the next round of talks with the Government of India. Replying to a question on whether there was any chance of ULFA 'commander-in-chief 'Paresh Baruah joining the peace process, Rajkhowa said, "So far Baruah has never said that he was against political solution to the conflicts. He also never said that he wanted military solution to the problems."

• May 20: Two ULFA militants identified as Haricharan Barman (25) and Dipak Das (24), were arrested by SFs from Borobazar under Bongaigaon Police Station in Dhubri District. The SFs recovered one Japan-made revolver and eight rounds of ammunition from them.

  At least 30 hardcore militants of ULFA's ULFA-ATF led by Paresh Baruah, under the leadership of '2nd lieutenants' Pradip Gogoi alias Aaka and Tibrajyoti Baruah and 'sergeant major' Muhim Baruah entered Sivasagar District in Assam from Myanmar through Waksing Basti of Nagaland along Assam Nagaland border of Charaideo sub-division in Sivasagar District recently. The 30-member group was trying to enter nearby Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur Districts for organisational purposes and for secure shelter. The activities of the group will be controlled by 'MMHQ' 'Major' Jeevan Moran will be in charge of MMHQ.

• May 19: ULFA-PTF is yet to finalize its charter of demands to pave the way for starting formal talks with Central and State Governments. Sources in the pro-talk faction of the ULFA said that they had a few rounds of discussion on the draft charter of demands prepared by the SJA and a few more rounds of talks would be held within the next few days. The formal charter of demands would be finalized before the formal talks on political issues resume, sources said. The pro-talk group was also thinking in lines of sending one senior member to Bangladesh to meet ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who was under the protective custody of Bangladesh after completing his jail term.

• May 18: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the new Congress Government in Assam would work towards finding a lasting solution to the demands raised by the ULFA and other rebel groups of the State. He said that the people gave a mandate for peace and conciliation and it is his duty to find a permanent solution with the ambit of the Constitution of India.

• May 17: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that Centre would start negotiations with ULFA even if its military chief, Paresh Baruah, didn't take part in the peace process. "The dialogue with ULFA will begin soon after the new Assam government, led by Tarun Gogoi, assumes office. The previous government in the state, also led by Gogoi, was keen on finding an honourable solution to the Ulfa problem," Chidambaram told newspersons.

  NDFB-PTF demanded a clarification from Chidambaram over why ULFA was treated with kid gloves despite being a banned outfit, while rules were different for other militant groups. NDFB 'general secretary' B. Swmkhwr said that we submitted a memorandum to the Centre and hope for a favourable response adding that the outfit was in favour of expediting the dialogue.

• May 14: ULFA said that formal talks between ULFA and the Government will begin in the first week of June. He said the ULFA was holding talks with distinguished persons and organizations in a bid to take their views on the peace process.

  PTI reports from New Delhi that the Centre was arranging a meeting between a top leader of the Pro-Talk faction of the ULFA and the outfit’s ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia, currently lodged in a jail in Bangladesh, ostensibly to get his consent for the dialogue. Government officials said the Centre’s interlocutor PC Haldar was in regular touch with the ULFA leaders, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in February and expressed their willingness to engage in a dialogue. Before the talks, one of the top leaders of the outfit will travel to Dhaka to meet Chetia to brief him about the initiatives taken by them to bring lasting peace in Assam and get his consent for it. If Chetia comes on board, it will further isolate the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah, who was steadfastly opposed to any peace dialogue with the Centre.

• May 12: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that the next Government would be a Congress-led government and that the new Government will resume the talks process. The Centre and the State Governments are engaged in talks with pro-talk factions of ULFA-PTF, NDFB and DHD among others. Dialogue with the Pro-Talk faction of ULFA is slated to resume in June.

  Five leaders of the top brass of the ULFA, namely Major Bening Rabha, Major Ashanta Baghphukan, Major Jeeban Moran (Senior),Lt Nilu Chakravarty, 2nd Lt Sarat Sarania alias Abhijit Deka along with few others who were missing since the Operation All-Clear by joint operation of Indian & Bhutan Royal Army in Bhutan in 2003 are in secret custody of Bhutan Government. The exact location of these ULFA men is not known yet but in most likelihood they are kept together in the same location. Evidence was found that this news is known to the top section of ULFA and that the outfit never declared this knowledge to the public for the fear that Bhutan might kill the leaders secretly to wash off their hands from allegations. It was learnt that the ULFA is aware of this and tried to contact the Government of Bhutan for this in the past. ULFA’s Commander of the dreaded 709 Battalion, Heera Sarania sent an email to the King of Bhutan as well as to some of the Bhutanese ministers in January 2008 asking them to release the leaders. However there was no positive response to this from Bhutan authorities.

• May 11: Government of India agreed to set up nine rehabilitation centres in various districts in Assam for about 400 ULFA militants who have come over ground but stopped short of surrendering before or declaring ceasefire with the Government. The State Government moved the Centre recently seeking funds for rehabilitation of the overground ULFA militants so that they do not get into illegal business ventures. According to sources, the Centre agreed to set up nine rehabilitation centres for the 400 ULFA rebels – two each in Nalbari and Sivasagar Districts and one each in Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Nagaon and Golaghat Districts.

• May 10: Home Ministry sources revealed that the Sheikh Hasina Government is ready to give access to someone from Assam to meet Anup Chetia, the ULFA leader in protective custody in a Bangladeshi jail, reports Telegraph. The source further revealed that following the signal from Dhaka, at least one leader from among the eight engaged in peace efforts with the Centre will visit Dhaka. The purpose is to try and include Chetia, a member of ULFA’s permanent standing council, in the talks.

  ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa along with Chitrabon Hazarika and other leaders met the families of former ULFA cadres at Kardang village in Goalpara District.

• May 9: 200 SULFA militants of the outfit’s 709th battalion for the first time after their surrender met the ULFA leadership which convened the meeting at Helacha village in Nalbari district. The ‘commander’ of the 709th battalion Hira Saraniya invited the surrendered militants for a meeting at the temporary base at Helacha for their cooperation in the peace talks with the Central Government. The deputy ‘commandar-in-chief’ of the outfit Raju Baruah and ‘Foreign Secretary’ Sasha Chaudhury called upon the former colleagues to extend their full cooperation to the outfit. The former militants from Nalbari and Baksa Districts attended the meeting.

  While addressing on behalf of the surrendered militants Bikash Dutta, Jitu Talukdar and Mrigen Haloi assured the leadership to extend support to peace talks. Sources further said that the ULFA leadership exchanged their views towards the surrendered militants only in the interest of the common public. The sources further said that in order to strengthen the relations between these two groups, coordination committee was formed. The meeting with the surrendered militants, which was held for the first time in the State, is considered a major development in the outfit’s ongoing peace process with the Centre.

• May 8: ULFA claims that it was not involved in any extortion in the State. The outfit's publicity cell in-charge Arunudoi Duhatia said that ULFA-PTF (Pro-talk Faction) members now in talks with the Government of India is out to issue extortion notes in order to malign the image of the ULFA.

  The move by 'commander-in-chief' of the outfit Paresh Baruah to revive the anti-talk faction has created a lot of concern for the security agencies. Security sources that the elusive ULFA leader is in Myanmar and he is trying to revive the outfit with fresh recruitments. Sources said that Baruah and his close aides are reportedly staying in Taga area of Myanmar and from the bases in that area; he can easily proceed to China whenever required. Security sources further stated that according to information available, at least 150 cadres of the ULFA are still with Baruah in the camps of the outfit in Myanmar, while, a few of them are in Assam. Though the ULFA does not have any camp in Bangladesh, a few elements of the outfit are still staying in hideouts in Bangladesh. Baruah not only tried to revive the outfit by dismantling the existing battalions, but there are also reports of fresh recruitments. Sources said that there were specific reports of a few batches of new recruits taken to Myanmar for training from the Districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, while, the intelligence agencies also came across reports of Baruah procuring weapons from China in recent times to strengthen the armoury of the outfit.

  ULFA-PTF leader Mrinal Hazarika lashed out at Paresh Baruah, and asked him not to disturb the peace talks. "He said that we have been requesting again and again that he (Paresh Baruah) be at a safe distance and should not disturb the peace process. Let him give a moral support, let the process move ahead and if the process doesn't move in the right direction and if the government betrays the people of Assam, people of Assam will once again support Paresh Baruah," said Hazarika.

  ULFA leadership has started discussion on the charter of demands prepared and handed over by the SJA, a civil Society group to the outfit in Guwahati on May 7. The charter of demands prepared for the much-awaited talks between the outfit and the Union Government are being discussed at an important executive meeting held at Helacha in Nalbari district on May 9. A high level source of the outfit said the executive meeting presided over by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, is studying the demands thoroughly. The executive body meeting of the ULFA's central council may also discuss the latest law-and-order scenario in the State. The executive meeting is being attended by ULFA's 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi, 'Foreign secretary' Sasha Chaudhury, deputy 'commander- in-chief' Raju Baruah, 'Finance Secretary' Chitraban Hazarika, 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka, 'Publicity Secretary' Mithinga Daimari executive members Anu Burhagohain, Hira Sarania, and Phanindra Medhi alias Lebu.

• May 6: Mrinal Hazarika, leader of ULFA-PTF accused outfit 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah of being an agent of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and drawing funds from various international agencies for running the outfit. Hazarika raised the allegation against Baruah vehemently countering the anti-talks ULFA's claim that he was a broker of the Government of India at a seminar. ''Paresh Baruah is an ISI agent and draws funds from various international agencies,'' he said while addressing seminar on the topic "Relevance of Swadhin Asom, mainstream and its suffering, and ways to solve the problems", organized by the former ULFA members of undivided Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts.

• May 4: ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa said that taking ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika and his group, who had announced unilateral ceasefire with the Government, in the mainstream of the peace process without making them change their economic agenda was a mistake. The economic agenda adopted by Mrinal Hazarika and his group was against the ideology of the ULFA, he said, and added that they needed to mend their ways.

• May 3: The process to identify sites for setting up designated camps for the members of ULFA-PTF has started and no member of the outfit will be allowed to keep weapons during the process of talks. Talking to Assam Tribune, Additional Director General of Police (Special Branch), Khagen Sarma said that the ULFA-PTF has given a list of around 400 cadres and the process of setting up the designated camps would start immediately after selection of the sites. He said that seven to nine designated camps would be established for the members of the ULFA-PTF. Sarma said that as per the accepted principle of the Government, the ULFA-PTF would have to deposit their weapons. However, the modalities in this regard are yet to be finalized.

  ULFA-ATF's 'publicity in-charge' Arunudoi Duhatia reacted to ULFA-PTF's leader Mrinal Hazarika's statement in which he questioned the moral of ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah by saying that Hazarika might assassinate Paresh Baruah's character before the media but he could never erode the high revolutionary morale of Baruah. He said that Hazarika was acting at the diktat of the intelligence wing of "colonial India."

• May 2: SFs recovered a bomb weighing about five kilogram from a bus at Simaluguri in Sivasagar District.

  APW urged the government to seize the arms of the ULFA-PTF and SULFA leaders to ensure that they do not engage in any "gang war" in the name of running of business syndicates. APW 'chairman' Abhijit Sarma and 'general secretary' Bitu Talukdar said that the government should seize the arms of the pro-talk and SULFA leaders to prevent them from engaging in possible gang wars over business matters. Moreover, the ULFA-PTF leaders should be asked to stay at designated camps, they added.

  Police suspect the involvement of militants belonging to the ULFA-ATF in the killing of Manjit Rabha (31), a militant of ULFA-PTF, in Udalguri District. An unidentified gunman fired at Rabha at Nalkhamra village in Udalguri District, when he was on his way to Kolaigaon on a motorcycle. Rabha died on the spot.

• April 30: The Paresh Barua Faction of the ULFA lashed out at former 'commander' of the outfit's 28th battalion Mrinal Hazarika for declaring that ULFA-PTF militants would make a foray into the coal business for sustenance. A statement by Arunodoy Dohotia, leader of the outfit's 'central publicity' cell that was mailed to media houses said that ULFA was in no way connected with the statement. It was purely Hazarika's personal opinion, which exposed his arrogance and inclination to mafia raj. opposition leader and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said the AGP would come down heavily on the syndicate business if it comes to power this time. He said involvement of the Surrendered ULFA leaders in the syndicate business provides evidence of total failure of the law and order in the state. Mahanta said all former ULFA leaders must deposit arms and enter designated camps for meaningful peace talks with the Government.

• April 29: In addition, the ULFA-PTF leader Mrinal Hazarika stated that the outfit would involve itself with business activities in Assam and Hira Saraniya, the 'commander' of the outfit's 709th battalion' was appointed as the in-charge for the purpose. Claiming that the intervention is aimed at evicting 'mafia raj' and 'syndicates' from the existing business scenario, the ULFA leader said that the outfit's intervention would facilitate involvement of local youths in coal and other lucrative businesses.

• April 27: State Government decided to set up nine more designated camps in the State for the cadres of the Pro-Talk faction of ULFA, as per the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to a high level Police source, out of the nine new designated camps, two camps will be set up in Nalbari District, which is considered to be a hotbed of ULFA militants. He added that the other seven designated camps will be set up in Durbin, Baihata Chariali, Morigaon and Golaghat but the process is still in preliminary stage.

  Intelligence inputs reveal that the Paresh Barua faction was carrying out recruitment in lower and central Assam Districts as well. The recruitment is being carried out in the rural areas, particularly from interior villages. ULFA is recruiting youths from Goalpara, Dhubri, Barpeta, Kamrup, Nalbari and Baksa Districts in lower Assam and Darrang and Morigaon in central Assam. In Goalpara and Kamrup Districts, ULFA is recruiting youths mostly from the Rabha community. The recruitments are taking place in Rabha-dominated areas such as Dudhnoi in Goalpara and Boko in Kamrup. "Recruitments are also reportedly taking place at Patacharkuchi in Barpeta District, Tihu in Nalbari district and Barama in Baksa District. According to sources, the Paresh Barua faction carried out most of the recruitments in the run-up to the Assembly polls when the Security Forces (SFs) were focused on carrying out free, fair and peaceful elections.

• April 24: ULFA may be offered jobs for their surrendered cadres in the Central Armed Police Forces when they come here for the second round of talks later next month or sometime in early June. "The option is being explored, taking cue from what we did in case of surrendered militants in Jammu and Kashmir. A number of Kashmiri militants have been recruited in the CRPF over the years," said an official who is privy to the proposal. He said the idea was to offer something which could help bring them into the mainstream and run their families/dependents, provided the surrendered cadres of the pro-talks faction of the outfit fulfilled certain conditions and required parameters.

  ULFA denounced a recent declaration by the Paresh Barua faction that all the battalions of the outfit were dissolved and there would be no battalion commander, reports The Hindu. The declaration by Paresh Barua on disbanding of the battalion lacks any substance or meaning. The decisions taken by the Central Executive Council and the General Council of the ULFA are the final decisions. The ULFA constitution has not given any authority to anyone else to take decision on behalf of the organisation. Any decision taken unilaterally in the name of organisation is not constitutionally valid," sand a statement e-mailed by member of the ULFA's central publicity unit Kamal Kachari. Earlier, on April 21, the Paresh Barua faction said all members of the armed wing would now function under the command of the mobile headquarters and all the old formations had been dissolved.

• April 23: ULFA leaders were given INR 40 million by the Union Government for daily expenses and to run their families. The Union Home Ministry released the first installment of financial assistance to the ULFA leaders, including 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and others besides its cadres - totaling approximately 400. "We have disbursed the money to the ULFA through the Assam Government. The money has been given to take care of the daily expenses of ULFA members and other family requirements," a Union Home Ministry official said.

• April 22: ULFA talks, tentatively scheduled for the first week of May, are likely to be pushed back by a few more weeks as the Union Government's condition that militants should deposit their weapons before a substantial dialogue remains unfulfilled, reports Telegraph. The weapons are reportedly in the possession of two of ULFA's eight senior leaders but the outfit is undecided on whether it wants to double-lock the arms, that is keep it in joint custody with one set of keys remaining with the Government and the other with the militant outfit.

• April 21: The Paresh Barua-faction of ULFA re-organized its armed wing by dismantling its existing battalions and bringing all its cadres under the mobile military headquarters. The decision to re-organize the armed wing was taken during a 10-day meeting, chaired by 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua, held from March 20 to 29 at the outfit's mobile headquarters. The resolution was to come into effect from April 21.

• April 13: For the first time in years, militant outfits were not involved in creating disturbance during the polls barring one incident of blast in the Rajiv Bhawan, the headquarter of the APCC on March 14, but threat from the militants is far from over as Security agencies received inputs about possible attacks on SFs, The anti-talk faction of the ULFA, headed by 'commander in chief' of the outfit Paresh Baruah, threatened the Congress and managed to trigger off an explosion in the Rajiv Bhawan, but the outfit could not indulge in any other major act of violence due to tight security measures taken up. Though there were intelligence inputs of a few ULFA militants entering the city, the elections passed off peacefully. Polling in the militancy hit Districts of Dima Hasao (formerly known as North Cachar Hills) and Karbi Anglong was also by and large peaceful with most of the militant outfit operating in the area are under ceasefire agreement with the Government.

• April 8: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram invited the ULFA-ATF led by its 'military chief' Paresh Baruah for talks. He urged the people of Assam to vote for peace as the peace process initiated by the Congress Government of Tarun Gogoi has yielded positive results. The Union Home Minister claimed that there was a dramatic turnaround in the law and order situation in Assam and almost every insurgent faction is in the negotiation mode.

• April 7: ULFA-PTF observed its 32nd Raising Day in the designated camp at Kakopathar in Tinsukia District. On the occasion, ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa hoisted the ULFA flag and the 'political adviser' of the outfit Bhimkanta Buragohain, performed Shahid Tarpan (commemorating ceremony of Martyrs). Later, an open session was held under the Presidentship of Arabinda Rajkhowa while ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradeep Gogoi explained the objective of the meeting.

• April 6: ULFA-ATF will observe its foundation day (April 7) in the jungles of Myanmar, where the group is reportedly holed up. The Government sounded a security alert across the State to restrain Paresh Baruah's group from carrying out any show of strength on the day.

• April 5: ULFA decided not to go ahead with its earlier plan of calling bandhs (shut down) from April 6 to 15 during the visits of PM Manmohan Singh and other Central leaders for election campaigning in Assam. The anti talks faction led by Paresh Barua said that it will not call any bandh during the period in view of the upcoming Regalia Bihu celebrations in the State. As reported earlier, ULFA had called for a bandh on April 2 protesting against the Prime Minister's visit to address two poll rallies during the first phase. The PM Singh is scheduled to visit Barpeta and Mangaldai assembly constituencies in Lower Assam on April 8.

  ULFA is preparing to celebrate its raising day (April 7) in a 'grand way' at its Kakopathar designated camp in Tinsukia District. Prabal Neog, a leader of ULFA's Pro-Talks group said that it will be the first time that we will celebrate the raising day in such a grand way and with the people of Assam. He further added that all the leaders of ULFA's 'central executive' barring Paresh Barua and Anup Chetia will attend the function.

• April 3: One 7.62 pistol, an IED weighing one kilogramme with a remote controlled- switch and four rounds of live ammunition were recovered during a search operation by SFs from the house of Narayan Roy, the younger brother of Pradip Roy, a member of the central committee of ULFA, at Madhusolmari village in Dhubri District.

• April 2: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the Union Government was open to talks with all militant outfits and the discussions with the ULFA ad been good beginning, "The ULFA peace talks are a good beginning. Our doors for peace talks with all militant groups are open. We want the militants to shun violence and come for talks," the Prime Minister said at an election rally in Dhakuwakhana in eastern Assam, about 500 kilometers from Guwahati while campaigning for state assembly polls.

  SFs arrested five ULFA militants in the Hahkhati area under Dhola Police Station in Tinsukia District. One of the arrested militant was identified as 'lance corporal' Bolin Gogoi alias Saurabh Bora (24), who is a known explosives expert in the outfit. SFs recovered one 9mm pistol and an IED.

• March 31: The ULFA-ATF called for a 12 hour Assam bandh (shut down) on April 2 in protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s scheduled visit to the State. The ULFA-ATF accused the Prime Minister of failing to find a solution to the ‘‘Assam-India conflict’’.

• March 25: To strengthen its organizational set-up, ULFA lifted ban on the four Pro-talks group leaders who took the lead to declare a unilateral ceasefire in June 2008. Announcing the decision at a news meet held at the outfit’s designated camp here in Tinsukia District, ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa said all the four leaders, Mrinal Hazarika, Prabal Neog, Jiten Dutta and Jun Bhuyan (all from the outfits 28^th battalion), would very much be a part of the peace process initiated by the central leadership.

• March 20: Security Forces got the whiff of a plot hatched ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua to use militants of other outfits from neighbouring States and even Myanmar to ambush Congress leaders and men in uniform in the run-up to the Assembly elections. Sources revealed that another worrying factor is the tacit understanding between the ULFA-ATF and NDFB-ATF as both may carry out attacks in tandem.

  The Pro-talk faction of ULFA led Arabinda Rajkhowa, decided that its cadres will not stay in designated camps like those of other outfits engaged in peace dialogues with the Government. ULFA ‘vice-chairman’ Pradip Gogoi said the decision was taken as the members of the central executive committee felt that staying in designated camps would further alienate the ULFA cadres from society.

• March 17: The ULFA-ATF hit out against the leaders of the pro-talk faction and said that no one has the right to talk about the constitution of the ULFA and its ideals by staying with the enemy. The leaders of the ULFA-ATF also said that the true feelings of the people of Assam on the demand for sovereignty would come out only through plebiscite and not by holding "Jatiya Abhibartan". In a release issued to the media, the ‘publicity in-charge’ of the ULFA-ATF, Arunodoi Dohotiya called upon the ULFA-PTF leaders, who are out on bail after their arrest, to come out of the grasp of the "enemy" and lead the outfit again. He said that the differences within the ULFA could be settled through discussions within the organization.

• March 16: The ‘commander-in-chief’ of the ULFA, Paresh Baruah is making all out efforts to revitalise the outfit and according to intelligence inputs, he even "promoted" more than a hundred militants to keep them happy. The anti-talk faction of the NDFB-ATF may target SFs in the days to come in retaliation to the recent setbacks received by the outfit. As per information available with the Security agencies, senior ULFA cadre, Jiban Moran, was given the status of ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ by Paresh Baruah and by virtue of his rank, he is now the second in command of the outfit. Similarly, two other high ranking cadres, Drishti Rajkhowa and Bijoy Chinese, were promoted from the rank of ‘self styled Second Lieutenant’ to ''self styled Major'', giving them a major jump in the outfit.

• March 15: One Assam Police sub-inspector identified as Pranjal Saikia and two suspected ULFA militants were killed during an encounter at Tongona Majgaon under Kakopathar Police Station of Tinsukia District. The identity of only one ULFA militant was ascertained as Ilu Mahanta. An AK56 rifle along with 19 live rounds, one 7.65 mm pistol along with three live rounds, a large quantity of empty cartridges, two detonators, two mobile phones were recovered from them.

• March 14: Five persons were injured when ULFA militants triggered IED blast at Rajiv Bhavan, the state head office of INC, at Guwahati. APCC spokespersons Mehdi Alam Bora and Akshay Rajkhowa were among the persons injured in the blast.

• March 11: ULFA militant Arpan Saikia and his MASS accomplice Tapan Das, who were arrested by SFs on March 10 in Guwahati on extortion charges were produced before the Kamrup SDJM court on March 11.

• March 10: SFs arrested two militants, including Keshav Mahanta, ULFA militant, from Bamuni-maidam area in Guwahati. The other arrestee was identified as Tapan Kumar Das, whose further detail yet to be ascertained.

  SFs arrested a Pro-Talk ULFA militant, Arpan Saikia alias Pradan Saikia, from Guwahati on extortion charges.

• March 9: Highly-placed sources in the MHA revealed that the Maoist rebel groups are making efforts to establish tactical alliance with the hard line faction of ULFA headed by the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the outfit, Paresh Baruah in the wake of the recent developments including the move of the pro-talk members of the ULFA including the outfit’s ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa starting the process of talks with the Government of India.

• March 7: ULFA founder member and ‘vice chairman’ Pradip Gogoi, who was released from prison after twelve years, said that he was hopeful of "meaningful talks" with New Delhi to resolve the conflict in Assam.

• March 4: Highly placed sources said that strong bonding between the militant groups of the North East having bases in Myanmar is a major cause of concern for the security agencies. The ULFA-ATF and NDFB-ATF recently sent small batches of new recruits to the neighboring country for training in handling of weapons. The sources revealed that the militant groups of the North East are coming closer to each other in Myanmar in the interest of their own survival and most of the outfits of the region are having strong bases in the Taka (Taga) area in the Sagain division of Myanmar.

• February 25: Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley said that law-breakers from Assam, especially militant groups including the ULFA, will not be allowed to take refuge in his country. He categorically said that the ULFA had stopped setting up base in Bhutan and the leaders and activists of the outfit had left the neighbouring country. "There is no ULFA camp in Bhutan. People of Assam who are not law-abiding will not be allowed to take refuge in Bhutan," Thinley told reporters at Borjhar airport.

• February 24: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh disclosed that four years ago he almost succeeded in engaging ULFA in peace talks but the outfit backed out. Referring to the North-East, the Prime Minister said the situation in Manipur and some parts of Assam is a cause of concern. But the overall the situation has improved.

• February 23: Seven ULFA and one NDFB militants were arrested by SFs from Tinsukia District and Dhekiajuli Panbari under Rangapara Police Station in Sonitpur District, respectively.

  Assam requested the Centre for additional paramilitary forces with the twin objectives of thwarting any attempt to disrupt the peace process that had recently got under way with ULFA as well as the ensuing Assembly elections likely to be held in April.

  Police issued an alert that sophisticated arms and ammunition may be sneaked into Upper Assam to be supplied to militant outfits or for settling political scores as SFs fear United ULFA, using such weapons in coming Assembly elections.

• February 20: In an e-mail to the press, ULFA anti-talk faction publicity in-charge Arunudoy Dohotia said, "We have already apprised the people of Assam that we will not compromise on the issue of Assam’s sovereignty, and the question of supporting the talks does not arise". He claimed that ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and other leaders had to sit for the talks since they were now under the control of the "enemy camp".

  Three ULFA militants Antu Saudang, Pradip Chetia and Pranjit Saikia were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Guwahati in connection with the 2009 Maligaon bomb blast. The court remanded them to four days Police custody.

• Febraury 19: The anti talks faction of ULFA led by its fugitive ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah threatened to launch an armed strike against the ruling Congress in the state for splitting the outfit.

  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted that peace talks with the ULFA held a ''good future'' and downplayed the threats to the Congress issued by the outfit's Paresh Barua faction ahead of Assam Assembly polls.

• February 17: Eleven days after being abducted on February 6 at gunpoint by suspected militants belonging to the anti talks faction of NDFB-ATF, the three remaining volunteers of WWF- Syed Nausad Zaman, Goutom Kishore Sharma and Pranjal Kumar Saikia - were released unharmed near Kokrajhar town in Western Assam.

  Three top Assam-based CPI-Maoist leaders, who were arrested by Orissa Police on February 12 from Saranda forest, were taken on transit remand by the Assam Police for further interrogation. Police sources said that a team of Assam Police and IB visited Rourkela in Orissa and found some vital clues linking their activities with the ULFA.

• February 16: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the talks with the ULFA will have ‘far-reaching consequences’. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refused to commit a time-frame for resolution of their vexed problems, though he mentioned that Government of India is serious about an honourable solution. He also observed that the situation in North-east is getting normalized.

  Chief Secretary-Director General of Police level meeting held in Guwahati between Assam and Meghalaya reviewed the current situation in the ethnic-violence hit border areas and contemplated roping in the army for joint patrolling in the areas on a "long-term basis". The meeting discussed various confidence building measures.

  The North Eastern States including Assam supported the Centre’s move to extend the ban on ULFA for another term. An Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal heard the counsels for the four States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland and posted the matter for further hearing on March 3. Nagaland Government, which is yet to give its opinion on banning ULFA, has been directed to submit it by the next date of hearing.

• February 15: ULFA ‘Chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured an honourable and acceptable solution to the ULFA-Centre peace talks. The ULFA ‘chairman’ while terming the meeting with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister as fruitful, said that the Prime Minister assured that the rights of the people of Assam would be upheld through an honourable and acceptable solution.

  Surrendered militants of Assam are taking lessons to become entrepreneurs. Altogether 28 surrendered militants are attending a programme conducted by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship. The militants from ULFA and NDFB appreciated the programme, which includes behavioural lessons, identifying opportunities and preparation of business plans.

• February 14: A delegation of the ULFA called on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his official residence for an informal discussion. The delegation, headed by the ‘chairman’ of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa, arrived at the residence of the Prime Minister and held talks for about ten minutes in presence of the National Security Adviser Shivsankar Menon and Centre’s interlocutor for talks, P C Haldar. Official sources, however, termed the ULFA leader’s meeting with the Prime Minister as a courtesy call.

  Leaders of the ULFA, minus the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the first time in New Delhi.

• February 11: Union Home Minister conveyed to ULFA that Government of India is willing to amend the Constitution, if need arises to solve the problems of Assam. This was revealed by ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa.

  Addressing the Assamese Student Association in New Delhi ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa told the youth that it is not ULFA’s desire that the future generation be forced to take up arms as ULFA had been forced to. The ULFA leaders had a word of advice for the students: "Do not ever pick up guns. You should never take the path we had adopted."

• February 10: Ahead of the Centre’s meeting with the ULFA, the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the Constitution of India is flexible and resilient enough to accommodate the aspirations of the people of the North Eastern Region. While addressing a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry, the Minister said aspiration of the ethnic groups can be fulfilled under the provisions of the Indian Constitution. The meeting was on "Matters relating to insurgency in NE: peace process". The Government is in talks with nine insurgent groups from the North-east and expects to reach agreements with some of them during the year. The Government is open to talks with groups which abjure violence, Chidambaram said. The Home Minister said that the situation in the North-east has shown remarkable improvement in 2010 as compared to the previous year. The number of incidents of violence and the casualties of civilians and Security Force personnel has come down.

  A delegation of the ULFA held talks with Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at the North Block in New Delhi. Chidambaram said that both Central and State Government will engage ULFA in sincere and meaningful talks to find a just and honourable solution. Besides ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, the other ULFA leaders at the talks were ‘vice-chairman’ Pradip Gogoi, ‘political adviser’ Bhimakanta Buragohain, ‘foreign secretary’ Shashadhar Choudhury, ‘finance secretary’ Chitrabon Hazarika, ‘cultural secretary’ Pranati Deka, ‘publicity secretary’ Mithinga Daimary and ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Barua. Meanwhile, asked if the ULFA leadership in view of the talks with the Government would appeal to its cadres to abjure violence and refrain from calling for economic blockade, ‘foreign secretary’ Shashadhar Choudhury pointed out that for the past one year, ULFA cadres had not indulged in any acts of violence.

• February 9: ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, along with other leaders of the outfit, met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at his Kainadhara residence before leaving for New Delhi to hold talks with Government of India.

  SFs arrested a ULFA militant, identified as Tutumoni Mahanta alias Hiten Kakoti (25), of Dingdingigaon village in Nalbari District.

• February 7: The ULFA has vertically split with the ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah rejecting the proposed February 10 peace talks between New Delhi and the militant leadership now out on bail. "The decision taken by the general council to hold peace talks with the government cannot be considered legal as the general council itself was unconstitutional," an emailed statement by Arunodoi Dohotia, ULFA publicity secretary, said. However, the ULFA leadership now out on bail had told journalists on February 5 that the outfit's general council held on February 2 decided to open unconditional peace talks with the Union Government and that all the resolutions adopted at that meeting were conveyed to Paresh Baruah.

• February 6: Three ULFA militants - ‘captain’ Antu Chaudang, ‘second lieutenant’ Pradeep Chetia and another cadre Pranjit Saikia - were remanded to ten days’ Police custody by the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup, reports Assam Tribune on February 7. The three were pushed back by Bangladeshi Security Forces (SFs) after they were arrested in the neighbouring country on February 5, the day when the outfit’s leadership formally announced its decision to sit for talks on February 10 without any precondition.

  Meanwhile, Union home minister, P. Chidambaram is likely to attend the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) arms decommissioning ceremony on February 11 at the Karbi Anglong Sports Association (KASA) stadium, reports Nagaland Post. Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi confirmed his presence for the event. All eyes are now set at Diphu to witness the historic moment when more than 400 revolutionaries would decommission arms. The Karbi Anglong Bangali Samaj (KABS) expressed hope that with the KLNLF deciding to end, people would witness a new peaceful and prosperous Karbi Anglong in near future.

• February 5: The ULFA said that its general council had endorsed the resolution of the central executive council (CEC) to sit for talks with the Centre without any precondition. ULFA ‘vice-chairman’ Pradip Gogoi, along with the outfit's ‘foreign secretary’ Sashadhar Choudhury and ‘central publicity secretary’ Mithinga Daimary, made the announcement at their first-ever press conference in Guwahati.

  The ULFA leaders said the general council, which met after 15 years on January 30, unanimously endorsed the decision taken by the CEC to honour the resolution adopted at the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA). Choudhury said the outfit had received an invitation for the first round of preliminary dialogue with the Government of India to work out the modalities in New Delhi on February 10.

• February 4: SFs arrested a KPLT militant from Dillai Police Station limits. The police recovered two mobile phones, copies of extortion demands and other incriminating documents.

• February 3:Two militants, one belonging to the ULFA and the other to NDFB, were arrested by the SFs from Zoo Road area in Guwahati and Bharalumukh, respectively.

  The first rounds of talks between the Government and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 10.

• February 2: The Election Commission of India asked the State administration to curtail the use of the armed pro-talk members of the militant outfits during the ensuing Assembly election in the State.

• February 1: The general council meeting of the ULFA concluded at a makeshift camp of Helacha in Nalbari District. The general council meeting was attended by the representatives from the all four battalions of the outfit including 709, 109, 27 and 28 battalions besides the central executive body. Sources added that senior leaders wanted talks on the issue of sovereignty. However, most of the leaders favoured the peace talks.

  The ULFA decided to dissolve the PCG at the outfit’s central committee meeting in Nalbari District. The PCG, a citizens’ group in Assam, was constituted by the ULFA in 2005 to initiate the talk process between the Central Government and the outfit.

  The ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa rejected Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s offer for peace talks, saying "there can be no talks while in custody". Earlier on January 31, Chidambaram had said that the Government was ready to hold talks with the jailed ULFA leadership without the presence of the ‘commander in chief ‘Paresh Baruah.

  Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said unless the ULFA leaders express their willingness for talks in writing, no negotiations would take place.

• January 31:The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the position related to the ‘general secretary’ of ULFA Anup Chetia, who has been in the custody of Bangladesh since 1997, remained unchanged.

  Chidambaram said that the NDFB-ATF plea for talks would be considered once Government is satisfied that violence, abduction and extortion have come to an end.

• January 28: The ULFA 'secretary' Jiten Dutta said that at a time when the ULFA's Central Committee is making an effort to hold talks with the Union Government, videos released by 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah on January 21 created confusion over peace talks. The 'secretary' said, "They are trying to pressurize the executive committee of ULFA who are in Nalbari District (where the executive council meeting is going on). Paresh Barua's threatening will not affect anyone from taking a decision in favour of the public of Assam."

• January 27: The general council meeting of the ULFA will be held in Tezpur in the first week of February, 2011 which will finalize the outfit's stand on the proposed peace talks with the Government, said a top leader of ULFA.

• January 25: A top Home Department official said that the Assam Government's talk of providing "safe passage" for the ULFA rebels to facilitate peace talks will have no bearing on Meghalaya. The official's statement came amid reports that most of the ULFA men belonging to the 109 battalion of the outfit are inclined towards the peace process. DGP S.B. Kakati said the ULFA was a banned organization, and that there was no question of giving any leeway to any of its members using the soil of Meghalaya.

• January 24: ULFA claimed that the two youths killed by SFs in Tinsukia District were innocent villagers and not its cadres. ULFA's 'publicity in-charge' Arunodoy Dohotiya in an e-mail claimed that Arup Chowrak and Kanteswar Chetia were residents of Goriating village in the Makum Police Station area and were picked up by SFs while cycling back to the village. "The state Government is resorting to fake encounters to wipe out the indigenous Assamese and this will not be tolerated by us," the e-mail warned, adding that the outfit would be forced to strike back if its patience was tested.

• January 23: SFs killed two ULFA cadres, identified as Arup Chowrak (22) and Kanteswar Chetia (28), in an encounter at Budlabetta under Doomdooma Police Station in Tinsukia District. SFs also recovered one 7.65mm pistol, two live rounds of ammunition, three hand grenades and two cell phones.

  ULFA-PTF leader Mrinal Hazarika demanded immediate ouster of the ‘chief’ of ULFA-ATF Paresh Baruah for his arbitrary decisions on the issue of peace talks, flouting organizational discipline.

• January 21: In a video clip sent to local TV channels, the self-styled 'commander-in-chief' of the ULFA Paresh Baruah and his followers in the outfit made it clear that they were opposed to the 'so-called' peace process being pursued by the Central Government with the ULFA-PTF leaders led by its 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa. The video clip contains slogans rejecting the peace talks and reiterating his original demand for an "independent" Assam. An e-mail, signed by Arundoy Dohotia, self-styled ‘commander’ of the publicity wing of the outfit, attached with the video footage stated that the ‘slogans are the slogans of the indigenous people, which the Government of India and the so-called peace brokers should realize’. It also showed over 100 ULFA cadres - including few women cadres - in uniform, wielding sophisticated weapons and shouting the slogans.

• January 20: ULFA began its central executive meeting after about eight years at Choria village in Nalbari District under its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa aimed at working out modalities for opening formal peace talks with the Union Government. Apart from Rajkhowa, those taking part in the meeting include ‘vice chairman’ Pradeep Gogoi, ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah, ‘foreign secretary’ Sasha Choudhury, ‘finance secretary’ Chitraban Hazarika, ‘publicity chief’ Mithinga Daimary, ‘cultural secretary’ Pranati Deka, and political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain. The executive meeting reportedly passed five resolutions including the decision to hold the general council meeting within the month of February 2011. However, the ULFA leadership maintained secrecy regarding the decisions of the executive body meeting. The executive meeting also decided to send a letter to ULFA’s commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah to invite him to join the proposed peace talks. They also decided to mount pressure on the Union Government for handing over ULFA’s ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia, who is in the custody of Bangladesh government.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the peace process with ULFA is on the right track for a permanent solution to the insurgency problem of the state and will continue even without the group’s ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah.

• January 19: Leaders of the ULFA led by ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa met at Baganpara area near India-Bhutan border in Baksa District over the issue of talks with Government. Sources in Nalbari informed that about 200 ULFA cadres and leaders have come out of hiding and taking shelter in makeshift camps at residential campuses of recently released ULFA ‘deputy commander in chief’ Raju Barua and ‘foreign secretary’ Sasadhar Choudhury.

  The ‘commander-in-chief’ of ULFA, Paresh Baruah, is yet to change his stand on the issue of talks. He also claimed that he was fully prepared to continue the arms struggle till the ‘goal’ of the ULFA is achieved.

• January 18: The rifts within the ULFA deepened as the leaders of the outfit had difference of opinion regarding the demands of ULFA in the ‘central executive council meeting’, the highest decision making body, held at Nalbari District. The ULFA-ATF led by ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah contradicted the position of ‘chairman‘ Arabinda Rajkhowa and demanded complete sovereignty for Assam. In an email statement he asserted that they would continue with their struggle until the sovereignty of Assam was achieved. The central executive council meeting was also attended by the released leaders of ULFA.

  India and Bangladesh began a two-day joint secretary level security meeting to discuss cooperation on sharing terror-related information, firing incidents along the border and exchange of prisoners as New Delhi pressed for extradition of ‘general secretary’ of ULFA Anup Chetia.

• January 17: The ‘chairman’ of the ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi regarding unconditional talks with the Centre. An official source informed that the letter was sent by the ULFA ‘chairman’ who was released on bail on January 1, 2011 to facilitate his engagement in the spadework for holding peace talks with the Centre. Gogoi, while confirming the receipt of the letter from Rajkhowa, termed it a positive signal for the peace process. He said it is up to the ULFA now to come forward for talks as early as possible.

• January 12: ULFA 'finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika, one of the last 'central committee' member of the outfit in prison, released from Guwahati Central Jail. After being released from jail, Hazarika said that illegal migrants from Bangladesh must be deported from Assam and demanded special measures to stop illegal influx from the neighbouring country.

• January 11: ULFA 'foreign secretary' Sasha Chaudhury said solving the ULFA problem was not possible under the Constitution of India. To find a solution to the differences between 'Assam' and India, the Union Government should amend the Constitution. He also raised his voice against the illegal Bangladeshi migrants, by admitting that they pose a serious threat to the State. "If I get the scope to take part in the negotiation to be held with the Indian Government, then my agenda will include this vital issue," he added.

• January 10: Two top ranking ULFA leaders, 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury and 'finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika, were granted bail by a special TADA court paving the way for their release.

  Tarun Gogoi ruled out general amnesty for members of the ULFA despite an atmosphere amenable for talks to start indicating that members of the outfit would have to go through the legal process for acts of violence.

• January 9: ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, alias Rajiv Rajkonwar, said that "militancy was not able to solve any problem in last 30 years". "We want to solve the ethnic problems of Assam, so that a true democratic atmosphere will prevail where every one will be free to speak up for the safety and security of Assamese people", he added. Rajkhowa said no one was above the people of Assam. "We are not going to compromise on anything secretly. We have no desire for power, nor do we have anything to do with election. We want to solve the problems of Assam through dialogue with dignity," Rajkhowa added further.

• January 8: ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah's presence in China was confirmed by the arrested chief of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) chief R. K. Sanayaima alias Meghan. Meghan confessed during interrogation that he had met the elusive 'commander-in-chief' of ULFA during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Highly-placed sources said the Manipuri militant leader also told National Investigative Agency (NIA) investigators that both of them had intensive talks in Shanghai about the activities of the two outfits, future plans, arms procurement, and the casualties suffered during the offensive launched by Security Forces.

• January 5: The Assam Government said that ULFA will have to give up its demand for sovereignty and use of violence before the ban on the outfit was lifted.

  The ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa apologized, on behalf of the outfit, for the killing of innocent people by the ULFA during its three-decade-long struggle. Interacting with reporters on the Lakuwa School premises in Sivasagar District, Rajkhowa termed the killings "undesired" and "unplanned mistake".

  The special public prosecutor filed the affidavit on behalf of the Home Department stating that it has no objection if both ULFA 'finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika and 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury, were granted bail.

  The Centre's interlocutor, P.C. Haldar, indicated that the dialogue with ULFA may begin in the next few weeks, ahead of the Assam Assembly polls. He said that the Government and the ULFA leadership were inching closer to start the parleys for bringing a lasting peace into the North-eastern state.

• January 4: No important member of the ULFA is active in Bangladesh any more as hardcore militant Drishti Rajkhowa also returned to India recently, highly placed security sources said. Drishti Rajkhowa, the Second in Command of the Operation Unit, entered India along with Jeeban Moran, one of the Central Committee Members of ULFA, sometimes in December, 2010. Meanwhile, Self-styled Captain of ULFA, Antu Chowdang and Second Lieutenant. Arunudoy Dohotia, were arrested by the Border Security Forces (BSF) in Bangladesh on December 13, 2010. According to Security sources, after the arrest of Antu Chowdang and return of Drishti Rajkhowa, no important member of the ULFA is active in Bangladesh. ULFA does not have any camp in the neighbouring country at present and though the possibility of some lower level cadres hiding in the Sherpur area of Bangladesh cannot be ruled out, they are not in a position to create any disturbance in India from such hiding places, sources added.

• January 3: Assam Government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Government would pave the way for the general council meeting of the ULFA so that the outfit could reach a consensus and submit its proposal to the Government. He said that, "The Government wants to lift the ban imposed on the ULFA, but prior to that the outfit has to drop its demand for sovereignty and shun violence. Talks with the outfit should be sustainable, leading to peace, not to another round of violence in the State. The Government will give a special permission to the ULFA for holding its general council meeting so that it can reach a consensus and submit its proposal to the Government."

• January 1: The chairman of the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Arabinda Rajkhowa was formally released from the Guwahati Central jail in Assam.

2010

• December 31: ULFA rejected the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s proposal of safe passage to militant outfits in the State during the ensuing Bhogali Bihu celebrations as an initiative to start the peace talks. "Safe passage is offered to thieves and dacoits. Dacoits of Chambal accept safe passage offer, not freedom fighters," an e-mail signed by self-styled ‘second lieutenant’ Arunodoi Duhotia stated.

  The ‘General Secretary’ of the ULFA, Anup Chetia, currently in custody in Bangladesh, is likely to be handed over to India within the next four months. PTI reported. According to official sources, around 30 to 50 middle-level leaders of ULFA are also all set to move out of Bangladesh and enter India within the next two days. Anup Chetia was arrested on December 21, 1997 in Dhaka for illegally entering into Bangladesh and possessing two forged passports of that country.

• December 30: The TADA Court, Guwahati granted bail to the chairman of the ULFA Arabinda Rajkhowa, in connection with all the six TADA cases registered against him. The ULFA chief was allowed to go against a bail amount of INR 1 lakh with two sureties of the like amount. The TADA Court granted the bail on condition that the accused shall not leave the country till the case is disposed of and must also deposit his passport, if any, to the TADA Court.

  Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi invited ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to join politics, saying that let him serve people through politics. "Let Rajkhowa join politics if he wants to serve people."

• December 29: With the Bangladeshi SFs intensifying operations against the ULFA, at least ten ULFA cadres entered Guwahati via Assam-Meghalaya border from Bangladesh. The ULFA militants who sneaked into Guwahati from Bangladesh were led by ‘sergeant’ Jitu Goswami and his wife Sadhana Rabha. The others include ‘sergeant major’ Antu Chowdang’s wife Alisa Chowdang and their two children, 2^nd lieutenant Pranjit Saikia’s wife Arsita Saikia, Pradip Chetia alias Robel’s wife and ‘sergeants’ Hasan Ali and Siraj Ali.

• December 27: The crackdown on the ULFA in Bangladesh will force its elusive ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah to rethink his intransigent stand, R.C. Saxena, Inspector General of Border Security Force (Assam-Meghalaya). "Baruah is under tremendous pressure because of the crackdown by Bangladeshi authorities. He will give up some day," he added.

  The hearing of ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa's bail plea was on December 27 deferred till December 30 following submission of an affidavit in the TADA court on the rebel leader's latest status. On December 24, the court had asked the home and political department to submit an affidavit regarding the latest status on him.

• December 25: The BDR claimed to have neutralised a suspected ULFA hideout close to the Indian Meghalaya border, seizing mine manufacturing equipment, radio sets and propoganda material. The hideout suspected to be that of ULFA separatist group was busted in the hilly forest areas in northern frontier area of Sherpur, close to country's border with Meghalaya.

  The ULFA said that its ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah’s son Arindam, who was kidnapped on an unspecified date, had been held hostage with his face covered with a black cloth, physically tortured and threatened with death by his kidnappers before being released.

• December 23: The ‘commander-in-chief’ of the ULFA Paresh Barua claimed that his son has been ‘kidnapped’ and blamed the authorities for using blackmailing tactics with his son as a bait. He, however, did not clarify from where or when the kidnapping took place.

  ULFA’s ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa and ‘finance secretary’ Chitrabon Hazarika were granted bail by the Guwahati High Court in connection with the Special Operation Unit police station case number 1/95 registered u/s 120(B)/121(A)/122 IPC read with 10/13 of the Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act. This came after A.K. Phukan, Advocate General submitted that the State Government has no objection in the ULFA leaders being granted bail in view of the peace talks.

• December 21: ULFA Bhimkanta Buragohain made an appeal to the state Government not to politicise the issue of peace talks even as the designated TADA Court deferred ruling on ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to December 22.

• December 17: Meanwhile, the Centre’s interlocutor, P.C. Haldar said that the proposed talks between the ULFA and the Government will be held in three weeks.

  The ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa suggested that ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia should be brought to Assam from Bangladesh and all the ULFA leaders, now in jail, be released before the peace talks.

• December 16: The judgment on the bail petition of the ULFA’s self-styled ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa in connection with six TADA cases would be pronounced on December 20 by the TADA Court in Guwahati. This comes after public prosecutor representing the State Government filed the no-objection petition against the release of the ULFA leader on bail.

  ULFA’s ‘finance secretary’ Sasha Choudhury was also produced before the Court. Similarly, UNLF self-styled ‘chairman’ Rajkumar Meghen has been remanded to judicial custody by the Special NIA Court, Guwahati, after the expiry of 13 days NIA custody.

• December 13: ULFA claimed that two of the ULFA leaders have been arrested by Indian intelligence agencies in Bangladesh. In a statement e-mailed to the press, ULFA ‘publicity cell manager’ Arun Dohotia said, "ULFA captain Upen Buragohain alias Antu Chaudang and second lieutenant Pradip Chetia were arrested by Indian intelligence agencies in Bangladesh on December 13. Buragohain and Chetia have gone missing since then." The Assam Police has, however, expressed ignorance about the arrest of the two ULFA leaders.

• December 12: The 28th battalion of ULFA extended its full support to the proposed peace talk between the ULFA and the Centre. Self-styled ‘commander’ of the battalion, Bijoy Chinese alias Bijoy Das, in a statement issued to the press, he favoured peaceful solution to the three-decade-old conflicts through dialogue. Chinese reiterated that his battalion would only extend direct cooperation to the proposed talks if it would be held in a conducive and honourable atmosphere.

• December 11: Five suspected ULFA linkmen were arrested in a joint operation of SFs from Hahkhati in Tinsukia District of Assam.

• December 7: The vice-chairman of the ULFA Pradip Gogoi said that ULFA is firm in its stand that peace talks would be possible only when all the leaders of the outfit were released from jails unconditionally. "After all the jailed leaders are set free, we will certainly decide for holding parleys with the Centre," he said.

  Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Government needs to create an environment conducive for talks and then make its stand clear on discussing the issue raised by ULFA. "When we sit for talks, ULFA will also see that the demands, issues and aspirations of various ethnic communities, intellectual societies, non-governmental organisations, religious groups, minorities etc of the State are brought out for discussion," Gogoi said.

  Political advisor of the ULFA, Bhimkanta Buragohain alias Mama said that ULFA is not just seeking peace through dialogue but wants that the exploitation, oppression, negligence and draining of wealth from the State by the Centre comes to halt.

• December 5: The Political Adviser of ULFA, Bhimkanta Buragohain alias Mama, was released from Guwahati Central Jail. Following the release Mama said, "The peace talks are moving in the right direction. Paresh Barua is the military chief of the organisation and, hence, he is very relevant in any matter relating to the outfit, including peace talks."

  The commander of ULFA’s 709 battalion, Hira Sarania, issued a statement to media houses saying the battalion would actively cooperate with the outfit’s central leadership’s efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the Indo-Assam political conflict.

• December 2: The detained ULFA ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia is likely to be handed over to India by Bangladesh before talks with ULFA commences in January, 2011. Inspector-General of Border Security Force (BSF) (Assam and Meghalaya frontier), R.C. Saxena, said that efforts are still on to get Chetia handed over to India before commencement of the tripartite talks, adding that a team from the Ministry of home affairs had gone to Dhaka to discuss the modalities of the hand-over with the Bangladesh Government.

• November 26: The deputy ‘commander-in-chief’ of ULFA Raju Baruah was granted bail by the CBI ad hoc Court in Guwahati. The Court granted bail to Baruah while hearing the last case (50 K06) pending against him.

• November 23: The designated TADA Court in Guwahati granted bail to the ULFA ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah against a sum of INR 100,000 with two sureties in connection with three cases, i.e., TADA case Nos. 32/01, 43/01 and 350/91. The Court also imposed four conditions on Baruah while granting the bail. These are: the accused shall not leave the Court till disposal of the cases and shall deposit his passport, if any, with the Court; shall not leave Assam without informing the officer-in-charge of the local Police Station where he is a resident; shall not threaten the victims and their near and dear ones besides the witnesses of the cases; and shall not commit any offence during pendency of the cases.

• November 19: It was reported that the verdict on the bail petition of ‘Deputy Commander-in-Chief’ of ULFA Raju Baruah in connection with three TADA cases will be delivered on November 23 by the designated Court in Assam.

• November 18: TADA Court in Guwahati is reportedly going to grant bail to ULFA ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah on November 19 when it conducts the final hearing of three TADA cases pending against him.

• November 16: TADA Court wanted to know if the Government had any objection to granting of bail to ULFA ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah. Government counsel K. Munir said the Government had no objection to Baruah’s bail plea because the Government favoured release of some ULFA leaders, including Baruah, from jail in view of their willingness to sit for peace talks.

• November 15: Suspected militants of the ULFA abducted a tea planter, identified as Om Prakash Chowkhani and his son Atulya from Tinsukia District of Assam. The whereabouts of the duo is not known.

• November 7: The 28th battalion of the ULFA is on a recruitment drive in Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts. According to intelligence sources, ‘sergeant major’ Rupantar Kakoti is overseeing the recruitment drive. Sources have also revealed that the ‘area commander’ of ULFA Sivasagar division, Bidyut Baruah, is on an extortion spree.

• November 5: According to the Police sources CPI-Maoist has established links with Adivasi People’s Army (APA) raised in Sonitpur District through ULFA. This was revealed during the interrogation of Tarjan Majhi, the Sonitpur District ‘commander’ of the APA. Majhi was arrested with five others on November 3 at Bhairabguri under Dhekiajuli Police station of Sonitpur District. Majhi claimed that an ULFA self-styled sergeant Major Das had provided arms training to APA cadre in Majbat area of Udalguri District and helped them contact the Maoists. The APA ‘District commander’ from Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District claimed he had recruited a large number of APA members and procured some firearms.

• November 3: Four ULFA militants snatched two AK-47 rifles and a carbine from Police personnel at Rajgarh of Dibrugarh and fled the scene.

• November 2: The hardliners of the ULFA headed by the ‘commander-in-chief’, Paresh Barua are trying to launch a fresh recruitment drive to increase the strength of ULFA. Highly placed Police sources said that the outfit has been able to start the recruitment drive in the upper Assam Districts. However, sources said that the ULFA has not been able to recruit large number of youths as was the case before.

• October 30: The Meghalaya Police recovered three grenades – commonly known as Australian pineapples – and 125 rounds of live ammunition, belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), from Assamese Navodaya Vidyalaya located at Madan Laban in Shillong. Later on, a search conducted by the Police also recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, five Kilogram of RDX, two walkie talkies, a flash gun, two detonators and six magazines, besides incriminating documents, all wrapped in plastic bags and kept underground below the permanent stage of the school. The documents found revealed that the arms and explosives were procured and delivered to one Young Changmei by ULFA ‘commander’ Drishti Rajkhowa way back on May 13, 1998.

• October 25: Special Operation Team personnel arrested two ULFA militants along with a linkman from their hideout in Guwahati and recovered two grenades and several incriminating documents from their possession. According to the sources one of the arrested militant was identified as Paresh Deka, a self-styled ‘sergeant major’ of 27th Battalion of the outfit. The arrested militants were suspected to be involved in a bomb blast in Goalpara District that killed four Sashastra Seema Bal personnel.

• October 14: ULFA ‘second lieutenant, Arunodoi Dahotia, an aide of ULFA ‘commander-in-chief, Paresh Barua warned a section of its leaders to keep away from influencing its cadres in Bangladesh and appealed to all to focus on their objective. "While we are eagerly awaiting the release of senior leaders of the outfit, including ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, a section of the leaders, at the behest of the enemy, are trying to influence our cadres in Bangladesh either by giving money or by threatening them with dire consequences. These leaders have also been putting pressure on our cadres by threatening their family members," Dahotia said, adding that these would have a bad impact on Assam as a whole.

• October 13: Two ULFA militants, identified as Prabhat Baruah and Miya Bora, were arrested at Dergaon in Golaghat District on. Both hailed from Majuli.

  The bail petition of ULFA leader Raju Baruah in connection with three TADA cases, which was supposed to be heard was deferred till October 26. Other jailed ULFA leaders including the outfit’s ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, ‘financial secretary’ Chitraban Hazarika and ‘foreign secretary’ Sasha Choudhury and ‘cultural secretary’ Pranati Deka were produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup in connection with different cases.

• October 12: The ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ of the ULFA, Raju Baruah, was granted bail in connection with a case relating to killing of a Superintendent of Police.

  The Assam Government is yet to receive any formal communication from the Union Government on the issue of release of the jailed ULFA leaders to pave the way for talks with the militant outfit. However, the State Government, on its own, has decided to facilitate the release of the jailed central committee members of the ULFA in phased manner by not opposing their bail petitions.

  ULFA ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah alias Hiten Kalita and ‘cultural secretary’ Pranati Deka was produced in the TADA Court in Guwahati. The Court would give its final hearing in the cases lodged against the two on October 13. The court would also give its decision on the bail plea of Baruah on the same date.

• October 11: The Satradhikar (head) of Natun Kamalabari Satra (hermit) in Majuli of Jorhat District, Narayan Chandra Goswami, alleged that a few "rebel" cadres led by Prabhat Bora, who had levelled charges of financial irregularities and dictatorial attitude against him, had conspired to assassinate him with ULFA help in 1997.

  One ULFA militant surrendered before the Army at the Laipuli of Tinsukia District.

• October 10: A ULFA cadre, Chandan Kalita (24), was arrested by the BSF at Mancachar of Dhubri District.

• October 8: After being in judicial custody since 2003, ULFA ideologue and ‘political advisor’ Bhimkanta Buragohain was granted bail by a District court. Sonitpur District and Sessions Court Judge Dinesh Chandra Choudhury granted bail to Buragohain, against two sureties of INR 25000 each. Buragohain was in judicial custody since December 2003 under the Unlawful Arms Act.

• October 7: With the Government of Assam planning to facilitate release of the jailed leaders of the ULFA in phased manner to pave the way for talks, the senior leaders of the militant outfit has started filing bail petitions and two such petitions will be heard by the court. Among the jailed central committee members of the ULFA, two are already out on bail and if the process to initiate talks with the outfit progresses as per expected lines, the other senior leaders may be bailed out in the days to come.

  Sasha Choudhury, ‘foreign secretary’ of ULFA was produced before the TADA court in Guwahati. The next hearing will be on November 16. When asked to comment on the peace talks, Choudhury said, "You cannot have peace talks when ULFA leaders are in handcuffs. ULFA leaders have to be released first for any peace talks to happen." He further said, "Let the talks begin, Paresh Baruah will come to the peace table," when asked if the ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ will join the peace talks.

• October 6: ULFA cadre, Akhil Changmai, surrendered before the Army at the Joysagar Army camp in Sivasagar District. Changmai, a self-styled ‘Lance Corporal’ of the outfit and a close associate of top ULFA leader Jibon Moran, surrendered with an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 68 rounds of ammunition. He joined the ULFA in 2002 and received training at the Papong camps in Myanmar. Speaking to the media, Changmai said that he returned from Myanmar in 2009 and stayed at Mon District in Nagaland for a year.

  Asserting that more and more ULFA men were favouring a negotiated settlement of the outfit's grievances, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on said that the Government had received feelers from ULFA camps based in Myanmar to that effect. "Most of the ULFA men are in favour of talks with the Government. While around 80 per cent of the ULFA men based in Bangladesh have left their bases to have a dialogue, similar indications are coming from Myanmar," Gogoi said at a press conference.

• October 4: Though ULFA has lost almost all its key shelters in Bangladesh with the incumbent Bangladesh regime extending cooperation, the outfit’s base in Myanmar has remained a cause for concern and major hurdle in facilitating peace talks with the group. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on indicated similar attempt to bring in ULFA cadres based in Myanmar to Assam ‘could take some time’. "The Myanmar faction (of ULFA) has not yet come. They will have to come through a difficult terrain controlled by different insurgent groups," he said and also reiterated that talks could be held in the absence of ULFA’ commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua.

  Intelligence sources said that six top ULFA leaders entered Nagaland from the neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh, and they are in favour of peace talks with the Government.

  A ULFA linkman was killed after an encounter between the Police and a group of suspected ULFA militants at Salbaripara village in West Garo Hills District in the night. The Police subsequently recovered one revolver with live rounds of ammunition from the encounter site. The slain linkman, who was identified as Sadon Koch (32), was earlier arrested and charge-sheeted in connection with theft of bikes in parts of Garo Hills, said the Police.

• September 30: The family members of jailed ULFA ‘deputy commander’ Raju Barua moved a bail petition before the designated Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) (TADA) court in Guwahati.

• September 27: Three well-trained ULFA militants were handed over by the Bangladesh Rifles to the Border Security Force at Halchati border outpost between Dalu and Purakhasia in West Garo Hills District. They were subsequently taken into custody by the Assam Police. They were identified as Praful Hazarika, Bhoben Dahatia and Rajiv Changmai. They belonged to Tinsukia District of Assam and were operating under the ‘28th battalion’ of the ULFA. They had undergone training at the main ULFA camp at Bangkakura, opposite Dalu, under Sherpur District of Bangladesh.

  Meanwhile, sources said that the Bangladesh Government has in its custody senior ULFA leader Dristi Rajkhowa who happens to be a close ally of the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua. Government sources indicate that Dristi Rajkhowa could be handed over to India any day now. The senior ULFA leader held complete sway over the border area on the Bangladesh side and was the chief architect in creating safe routes to and from India as well as in establishing camps along the border areas. He trained the cadres and supervised the shipment of arms from Bangladesh into India through the Garo Hills sector, informed a senior security official.

• September 26: Reports mentioned that a huge cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition, which was recovered six years ago in Bangladesh, was procured from a Chinese state-run arms factory for the ULFA.

  The top ULFA leader Mithinga Daimary, who is on bail, rejected the reports of split in the ULFA, reports Sentinel. He also rejected the media reports that ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa had conspired from the jail itself to make 23 leaders of the outfit desert their camps in Bangladesh and come to Assam. Daimary said that the 23 ULFA leaders and cadres who had left Bangladesh recently were under the safe custody of ‘709th battalion’ of the ULFA.

  Arun Dahutia, who was made ‘publicity secretary’ of the ULFA after Mithinga Daimary, had said in a statement that ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa would be responsible for any split in the outfit if he had hatched any conspiracy to bring the 23 ULFA leaders and cadres to Assam from Bangladesh. Based on that statement by Dahutia, there were media reports stating that the ULFA had split. However, ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah in an e-mail said that there was no split in the ULFA. "It’s only a temporary internal conflict. I will keep myself away from meaningless verbal duel. The difference in the ULFA is only on the mode of going in for the peace process. The enemy is out to split the ULFA. I hope our chairman will be able to foil the move."

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi confirmed the reports that the ULFA militants and their family members had neither been arrested nor had they surrendered.

  Union Government’s P.C. Haldar held talks with some leaders of the outfit inside the jail, including Arabinda Rajkhowa and Sasha Choudhury, who are likely to play critical roles in the proposed peace process.

  G.M. Srivastava, Security Advisor to Assam Chief Minister, said the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the ULFA, Paresh Barua, who is still adopting a hardline on the issue of talks, will be sidelined in the days to come with more and more of his close aides coming back to Assam from abroad. Srivastava said that according to information available, Paresh Barua is believed to be in China, while, Antu Chowdang and Drishti Rajkhowa are in Bangladesh. Hira Sarania moves between Bangladesh and India and Jiban Moran is in Myanmar. He said efforts are on to establish contact with Hira Sarania to persuade him to come over ground.

  A woman ULFA cadre, Purnima Konwar (25), was arrested from Bilotiagoria Chapori in Jorhat District.

  The Union Government interlocutor P. C. Haldar met the jailed leaders of the ULFA in the Central jail, Guwahati for a detailed discussion on the possibility of initiating the process of talks, while, three more cadres of the militant outfit returned from Bangladesh. The ‘Central Publicity Secretary’ of the ULFA, Mithinga Daimary told the daily that Haldar had talks with ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, ‘Foreign Secretary’ Sasha Choudhury and ‘Deputy Commander-in-Chief’ Raju Baruah in a "cordial atmosphere’. He refused to divulge the details of the discussion but termed the outcome as a "positive one".

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi exuded the hope that the talks with ULFA could be held within the next two months. He was making this statement after his meeting with P.C. Haldar, at his Khanapara official residence in Guwahati. The Chief Minister said that efforts are also on to involve ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua in the negotiation process.

• September 25: Two ULFA militants, including a woman cadre, were arrested by the Police, when they hiding in the residence of a person at Borpathar areain Golaghat District. Two cellular phones with four SIM cards and some documents were recovered from the possession of the duo who got arms training in Myanmar in 2008, said Police adding that the two militants hail from Mahmora area in neighbouring Sivasagar District.

  Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that he was hopeful of engaging the ULFA in a dialogue soon even as he denied having any information about the 23 hardcore ULFA militants held in Bangladesh being handed over to the Indian authorities on September 24. "The only information we have is that the militants left their camps…they have not been handed over to us," he said at a press conference. He also said, "We are optimistic about starting a dialogue with the ULFA soon even though I cannot give you a date for that right now. And not just the ULFA, our efforts are on to bring other outfits such as the NDFB to the negotiation table".

• September 24: Former ULFA cadres, who had abjured violence and given up arms to join the mainstream, are not satisfied with the attitude of the present Government. They have decided to go on the agitational path for wresting their rights. A meeting of the coordination committee of former ULFA cadres was held at Nagaon in which representatives of 18 District committees took part.

  Telegraph reports 15 middle-ranking ULFA leaders and their families, including eight women and five children, handed over to Assam Police by the BSF in Meghalaya. A Police official in West Garo Hills of Meghalaya said the BSF had detained the ULFA cadres, their wives and children after they were "pushed back" by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in the border village of Halchati near Mahendraganj.

  23 ULFA militants and their family members were "arrested" in Bangladesh and handed over to India. According to sources, the Bangladesh Police "arrested" them on September 22. The arrested militants include ‘lieutenant’ Bhaiti Baruah alias Apurba Baruah, ‘lieutenant’ Anu Buragohain, ‘captain’ Pradyut Gohain, ‘captain’ Biju Deka, ‘second lieutenant’ Anjan Borthakur and ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah’s body guard Kotia. Bhaiti Baruah is the ULFA’s in-charge of arms and weapons, while Anu Buragohain is the outfit’s ‘publicity secretary’. The others are their wives and children. The Union Government has, however, not confirmed the ‘arrest’ in Bangladesh.

• September 23: A suspected ‘self-styled captain’ of the ULFA, identified as Chandan Roy alias Kanu Roy (32), was shot dead by the Army and Police in a joint operation at Maktaigaon village of Sapkata outpost under Gossaigaon subdivision in Kokrajhar District. One 9-mm pistol, four live bullets and one used bullet, one magazine, two empty fire cases, one cellular phone were recovered from the incident site.

  India and Bangladesh will discuss issues related to cross-border terrorist activities and joint patrolling of the frontiers as top officers of border guards of both the countries began their five-day meeting in Dhaka. The 20-member Indian delegation headed by BSF chief Raman Srivastava on September 23 left for Dhaka for the meeting which will also discuss with Bangladesh Rifles chief Major General Rafiq ul-Islam issues relating to fencing and border management. Srivastava is likely to hand over to his counterpart a list of Indian insurgents who are believed to be hiding in Bangladesh, including ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah, and others. The issue of terrorist camps, especially those from India’s Northeast, and which operate within the territory of Bangladesh and harbouring of some criminals wanted by India will also be taken up during the meeting.

• September 21: Ajoy Kumar Subba, the abducted small tea grower who had been missing since September 14 reached home after he was released by the abductors at Talap, reports Assam Tribune. The Police claimed that Subba was released by the abductors, a gang of criminals, due to the pressure created by the Security Forces in search operations. Earlier it was reported that he was abducted by suspected ULFA militants.

  BSF troops of the Assam and Meghalaya frontier killed four militants of ULFA and Military Council of the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), arrested 17 militants belonging to the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), KLNLF, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Military Council faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) among others. They also got nine militants of ULFA, NDFB and All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) to surrender along with arms and ammunition.

• September 20: A ULFA cadre, Hodeshwar Neog (25), was arrested during a joint operation by Tinsukia District Police and Army. The report adds that the suspect opened fire at the security personnel to which they retaliated and injured Neog. A 7.65 mm pistol, two fired cases and four live rounds have been recovered from the spot.

  Two militants of the ULFA and NDFB surrendered before Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector-General, Assam and Meghalaya frontier, R.C. Saxena, in Shillong, Meghalaya. The duo deposited two 7.65-mm pistols, two magazines and eight rounds of ammunition.

  The ULFA cadre, Mahesh Bora alias Biman Kalita, joined the outfit in 2006 and got training in a camp at Papong Basti in Myanmar along with another 50 cadres for six months. "At present, there are about 150 cadres in the Myanmar camp," Bora said.

• September 16: Security adviser to Assam Chief Minister, G.M. Srivastav, said that peace talk initiative between the ULFA and the Union Government is going on the right track. "Peace interlocutor and former Intelligence Bureau chief PC Haldar is on the job and things are moving in the right direction," Srivastav said. He, however, informed that so far there has been no formal proposal from the ULFA regarding the peace talks.

• September 14: A ULFA militant, Ukhit Paw, was arrested by SFs from Ampung village in Tinsukia District. SFs recovered a pistol, five live rounds of ammunition, ULFA extortion pads and a large amount of incriminating material from his possession.

  ‘self-styled sergeant’ of the ULFA, Myke Antony alias Rajib Saikia who led the outfit’s medical wing in Myanmar, surrendered before the Eastern Command Counter Intelligence Unit of the Army in Tezpur of Sonitpur District. Saikia said most of the cadres of the outfit in Myanmar were depressed, particularly after the arrest of some of ULFA’s top brass. "There are about 150 cadres in Myanmar now, including 15 women. Almost 75 per cent of these cadres are desperately looking forward to come back to the mainstream," he added.

  Rajib Saikia had been providing medical cover from 2002 to 2010 to all cadres of ULFA at three camps in Myanmar, namely ‘28th battalion’ headquarters at Panshu and Meenakshu, ULFA council headquarters at Nyamung and Akran camp at Panchu. The surrendered cadre said that he was given duties to impart guerrilla training and medical training to the new recruits. Rajib further added that, the ULFA cadres were frustrated after arrest of their top leaders. He had met Jibon Maran at Manmar camp, he added. Moreover National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) camps are situated there. He also disclosed there was no rift among the leaders of ULFA.

  A six-member group of suspected ULFA militants abducted a tea planter, Ajay Kumar Subba (45), at Borbheta from Mahakali Tea Estate in Tinsukia District. He is nephew of former Member of Parliament (MP) belonging to Congress party Mani Kumar Subba. Ajay Kumar Subba is also the chief adviser to the All Assam Gorkha Students Union and the secretary of Asom Gorkha Sanmelan.

  Tinsukia additional Superintendent of Police Mukul Saikia, said, "We (the police) rule out the involvement of Ulfa in the abduction. We have some information that Subba’s abductors have not been able to take him out of the district. Therefore, we have launched a massive search in certain pockets". SFs are of the view that many gangs are operating in the name of ULFA and investigations have led to the involvement of some petty goons in most of these cases.

• September 13: The United People’s Federation of Assam (UPFA) has urged the Assam Government to hold talks with the militant outfits, including the ULFA and DHD that are in ceasefire or have offered to sit for a dialogue without further delay for a solution to the insurgency problem and peace and development in the State. UPFA working president John Phoithong warned that if the Government did not consider the October 2, 2010 deadline given by the Dilip Nunisa faction of the DHD over the issue of "Dimaraji", the Dimasa militants might go back to forests leading to fresh incidents of violence in North Cachar Hills District.

  Four ULFA militants, including a woman, were arrested by Tinsukia Police on an unspecified date. They were produced before the Tinsukia court on September 13. They were identified as Janmoni Moran (24), Ramesh Konwar (22), Rubul Moran (27), Khagen Konwar (23) and Jayanta Handique (26). They were arrested on charges of serving extortion notes to various citizens of Tinsukia, one of them being a teacher in Makum, who was asked to pay INR 0.2 million. A number of extortion notes and other incriminating documents were recovered by Police from the residence of Janmoni Konwar. During interrogation, she revealed that Khirod Konwar and Jayanta Handique were former ULFA militants.

• September 12: Army arrested the secretary of Sarabari Anchalik Committee of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) party, Deben Kalita from Lathapara village under Sipajhar Police Station of Darrang District for his alleged link with the ULFA. The Army suspected his involvement in extortion drive in the name of the outfit and recovered some incriminating documents from his possession.

• September 10: A fake ULFA cadre, Ajay Kachari, was arrested by the Police from the Broholla area in Jorhat District. Arms and ammunition were recovered from his possession.

• September 9: SFs arrested an alleged ULFA militant, Ratan Loing, from Jalukonibari Chariali in Jorhat District.

• September 7: A ULFA militant, Ismail Hussain, was arrested by the Army at Namtichariali area of Sibsagar District. A 9-mm pistol and ammunition were recovered from his possession.

  The Meghalaya Police raided a hideout of the ULFA in Danal Dasik area under Songsak Police Station of East Garo Hills District and exchanged fire with militants. The incident took place where around six ULFA militants were hiding. An exchange of fire took place between the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit of the Meghalaya Police and the militants, who later fled into the nearby forests, said a Police official. A top 'commander' of the '109^th battalion' of the ULFA, Gulit Das, was among the six militants hiding in the place. The Police recovered a laptop, solar plates, two wireless sets, medium machine gun boxes, MMG chain and bullets and three Chinese-made pistols with ammunition from the incident site.

• September 5: A ULFA militant, Moheswar Ray alias Chatu alias Manjit, was shot dead by Security Forces in an encounter at Bijilibari near Ontaigwlao under Kokrajhar Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

  A suspected ULFA militant, Pabitra Mohan, was arrested by the Police from near Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) counter in Sivasagar District.

• September 4: At least 109 militants of different outfits surrendered in Arunachal Pradesh in the past eight years along with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, Home Minister Tako Dabi informed the State Legislative Assembly. Most of the militants surrendered in Tirap and Changlang Districts before the Army and Para Military Forces since 2003, he said. Altogether 76 militants of both the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland–Khaplang (NSCN-K) along with 14 United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres and 19 of All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) surrendered during the period, Dabi said.

  Two ULFA linkmen were arrested by the Guwahati City Police from Geetanagar area of the city. The duo Utpal Kalita and Mridul Kalita had close links with ULFA cadre Chandan Kalita.

• September 3: ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa threatened to call off the peace process if the Government went ahead with its raids on the houses of the leaders of the SJA and the general public in the name of their manhunt for ULFA cadres.

  Tripura Police Chief Pranay Sahaya said that with crackdowns on the camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, militants of the Northeast are now shifting base to Myanmar. Outfits like ULFA, KLNLF and UNLF have already shifted their bases to Myanmar which has a 1650 kilometre long border with India, according to reports, the DGP said. The DGP said the Centre has already taken up with the Myanmar Government the issue of their soil being used by insurgents from Northeast India.

• September 2: The MHA is of the view that the Assam Government should play the lead role in starting the process of talks with the ULFA and the Centre would play the role of facilitator Official sources told the daily that the Government of India has not changed its stand on the issue of talks with the militant groups including the ULFA. Sources said that the Government of India has not softened its stand on the issue. The Government is keen to talk with any militant group, which abjures violence and comes for talks within the framework of the Constitution of India sources added.

  The Police arrested Biren Chakrabarty, a lecturer of Nalbari College, on charge of having links with the ULFA, from his residence at Shantipur. The Police also recovered two grenades and some explosives from his residence.

• September 1: Assam Tribune reports indicate the ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua has received visa to visit China. Sources told the daily that Barua received a visa to visit China in January 2010 for a period of six months and the visa was stamped on the Bangladeshi passport used by him in the name of Kamrul Zaman. Sources, however, admitted that the Government is not aware of the present whereabouts of Paresh Barua.

• August 31: A ULFA cadre was arrested by Security Forces (SFs) in Barundanga village of Dhubri District on an unspecified date. One 9-mm pistol and other incriminating documents were recovered his possession.

• August 30: Another ULFA linkman Mujibur Rehman was arrested by the SFs from Nij Rangamati village under Mangaldai Police Station in Darrang District. He served a number of extortion demands in the locality in the name of ‘27th battalion’ of the outfit.

• August 29: The pro-talks group of ULFA directly named the NSCN-IM as the main culprit in the recent Charaipung episode in Sivasagar District, reports Telegraph. ULFA pro-talks leader Mrinal Hazarika said that the NSCN-IM has been systematically trying to grab territories under Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for inclusion in its 'Greater Nagalim'. Assam Tribune adds that the Assam Government has taken up with the Government of India the issue of involvement of militants belonging to the NSCN-IM in creating disturbance in Assam.

  Members of the All Assam Ex-ULFA Coordination Committee have threatened to take up arms again in protest against the alleged Government’s failure to implement the proposed rehabilitation package for the former militants. The former cadres of the ULFA staged a sit-in in front of the Governor’s House in Guwahati in a bid to put pressure on the Government to meet their demands. Two major demands are withdrawal of all the pending cases against the former ULFA cadres and employment opportunities for them.
  
  The HNLC maintains an on-and-off relationship with the NSCN-IM, NDFB and NLFT, according to the ADGP (Meghalaya) who also said the outfit's nexus with ULFA is not yet ascertained. At present, the HNLC has around 50 active cadres, but each one of them does not have arms and ammunitions. "The figure might not be accurate as it is based on our assessment on sightings and technical intercepts," Jain said. The outfit has its camps at Maulvi Bazar, Sylhet and Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh. Many of its leaders are into betel nut plantations and own stone quarries in the neighbouring country.

• August 28: Suspected ULFA cadre, Tarun Barua, was arrested by a team of the Army and Tinsukia Police from near Doomdooma on the same day, reports Telegraph. A pistol was also recovered from his possession.

• August 26: A team of pro-talk ULFA visited Charaipung of Sivasagar District. Mrinal Hazarika, leader of pro-talk ULFA criticized the State Government for its failure to protect the geographical boundary of the State. He asked the Government to handover the border area to them in case the Government can not secure the life and property of the citizens living in border areas.

• August 25: Reacting to the threats by NSCN-IM that it would evict Assamese people living in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh if the economic blockade launched by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) activists in the wake of NSCN-IM attacks on the villagers of Charaipung area in Assam continues, the pro-talk faction of ULFA said it would begin an economic blockade against Changlang District by closing the Margherita-Changlang road at Margherita from 5am on August 25 for 72 hours.

  Two ULFA militants were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces in Naharkatiya in Tinsukia District. Two pistols were recovered from the bodies of the slain militants.

  The 72-hour road blockade on the Margherita-Changlang Road in Changlang District, which started at 6am on August 25 by the ceasefire group of ULFA, was lifted after a few hours following a discussion between representatives of the Tinsukia District administration and Margherita sub-divisional administratio. Jiten Dutta, one of the ceasefire group leaders, said they have temporarily withdrawn the road blockade, but it would be re-imposed if the situation turned violent again.

  Reacting to the warning of pro-talk ULFA group of taking action against Naga people in Assam if the NSCN-IM attacks the people of Assam in the trouble torn Assam- Arunachal Pradesh border, the NSCN-K appealed for the restraint.

  Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that while the year 2009 was a distinct improvement on the year 2008, it is in the 2010 that we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of incidents and in the number of casualties in the Northeast, according to Assam Tribune. There have been only 464 incidents until August 15, as against 1,297 and 1,561 for the whole year in 2009 and 2008 respectively. He pointed out: "Only 52 civilians have been killed, as against 264 and 466 respectively, and we have lost only 15 men of the security forces. Nevertheless, I must admit with regret that Manipur and Assam have been affected by long-duration blockades and bandhs and by intermittent violence."

  The Union Minister said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that a number of groups are engaged in talks with the Government of India. Among them are National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), pro-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Nunisa faction of the Dima Halim Daogah (DHD), Black Widow (BW), United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), Kuki National Organization (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF), he said. H further added, "We have appointed two Interlocutors: RS Pandey to talk to the NSCN (IM) and PC Haldar to talk to NDFB (PT), DHD (Nunisa), DHD (J), KLNLF, UPDS and ANVC, besides ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom]."

  Chidambaram called on the groups - or factions of groups - that have stayed away from talks to give up violence and accept the offer of the Governments to hold talks. "It is my hope that ULFA will also formally come forward to begin talks with the Government of India and the Government of Assam. There is no denying that the success achieved in bringing so many groups to the negotiating table has contributed immensely to the decline of violence in the North-eastern States," he stated.

• August 24: ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua described the recent comments of Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) spokesman Hiren Gohain on him (Paresh Barua) as harmful to the "national liberation struggle of the indigenous people of Assam." Gohain said at a public meeting at Nalbari District recently that Paresh Barua would not be allowed to become the sole authority of Assam. Sentinel adds that Paresh Barua said that he was not opposed to talks but was against any deviation from the outfit's ideology.

• August 23: A seven-member armed group of suspected ULFA militants abducted a small tea grower, Bhagwan Swami, from Duarmara Singpho village under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District. They abducted Swami from his residence and took him towards the adjacent Tarani reserve forest on foot. The militants first tried to abduct Swami's son, Kulendra (22), who managed to escape.

• August 22: A rickshaw puller was killed in crossfire between Security Forces and ULFA militants in Sualkuchi in Kamrup District. Police said two militants had come on a motorcycle to extort money from a businessman at Sualkuchi. A Police team, which had prior information, had laid an ambush in the area. SFs arrested Harakrishna Deka alias Siraj, and recovered a grenade and several extortion notices from his possession, while the other escaped. "We also recovered a pistol following the interrogation of the arrested militant," the additional Superintendent of Police of Kamrup, H.K. Nath, said.

• August 18: The pro-talks group of the ULFA said the outfit’s jailed leaders have asked the group to "go slow" on its peace initiative and wait for the leaders to join them. "This was the reason we have stopped our activities to take forward the peace process," leader of the pro-talk group, Mrinal Hazarika, said on August 18. He, however, said that this "go slow" on the peace process would not mean that the pro-talks group would wait forever for the leadership to join them.

  A joint team of the Army and Police recovered two rocket launchers and three chargers from a namghar (place of worship) at Dekhibangha village under Baganpara Police outpost in Baksa District. They recovered the weapons from inside the namghar. The launchers and chargers, wrapped in polythene bags, were buried in the recovery site. "The police are suspecting Ulfa as the area is a stronghold of the outfit," said a Police officer in Baksa. Two suspected ULFA linkmen, Prahlad Barman (30) and Dimbeswar Barman (32), were arrested from the incident site.

• August 16: Two ULFA militants were shot dead by the Police during an encounter a kilometre way from the Office of the Goalpara Superintendent of Police. They were identified as self-styled ‘second lieutenant’ Francis Rabha leader of ‘109th battalion’ and Pathak Rabha. One 9-mm pistol and a hand grenade were recovered from their possession. They were suspected to have been involved in the July 30 ambush that killed six CRPF troopers.

• August 15: The Assam Government on August 15 asked the ULFA and NDFB militant groups to accept the offer for talks to end the insurgency problem afflicting the State. Addressing the Independence Day function at the Latasil playground here, caretaker Chief Minister Bhumidhar Barman said, "The government is sincere in its efforts and hopeful that ULFA and NDFB outfits respond positively to the offer and sit for negotiation and help in restoring peace in the state".

• August 14: A hardcore militant of '28^th battalion' of the ULFA, Ripu Sonowal, surrendered before the Army in Sivasagar District. He deposited a 9-mm pistol and ammunition.

• August 11: Sangai Express reports that the KLO, Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), NDFB, National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), Tripura Peoples' Democratic Front (TPDF) and the ULFA called for a general shut down, and asked people in the Northeast region to boycott the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

• August 10: Arunachal Pradesh asked the Union Government to fence the India-Myanmar border to check the movement of militants from India's Northeast who have set up base in the dense forests of the State. Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister, Tako Dabi, in Agartala said the ULFA, the NDFB, the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K have set up their base camps in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh.

• August 9: A ULFA cadre, Rajit Moran alias Kiron Boruah (26) of Hebeda gaon under Bordubi Police Station of Tinsukia District, was arrested by Jorhat Police from Dhodang Sapori area of the District. Jorhat Superintendent of Police Debojit Hazarika said the arrested ULFA cadre is from the '28^th battalion' of the outfit and was coming from a Myanmar-based training camp to allegedly carry on subversive activities in the District ahead of Independence day. Police recovered some explosives and objectionable documents from his possession, he added.

  Four suspected ULFA cadres, including a woman, were arrested by the Tingkhong Police from No 1 Dhamal Gaon under Tingkhong Police Station of Dibrugarh District. They were identified as Golapi Sonowal (30), her brother Apple Sonowal (22), Chandra Sonwal (26) and Dina Changmai (30). All the cadres are in Tingkhong Police custody. Meanwhile, Police and other security agencies have launched massive patrolling in and around Dibrugarh in order to bring entire District under security domain in order to prevent untoward incidents on the eve of the Independence Day (August 15).

  Hatigaon Police arrested an ULFA linkman, Upen Deka. Chandmari Police arrested another ULFA linkman identified as Dilip Kalita in the Guwahati city.

  Teok Police arrested one Mithon Doley of Dergaon under Golaghat District in connection with a case of extortion. Police said that Doley demanded INR 0.4 million from Ajit Bora, a physician of Teok FRU, on July 20 over telephone introducing himself as an ULFA cadre.

  Two ULFA linkmen, Bikash Baruah and Heramba Baruah, were arrested by the Police from Hapjan in Tinsukia District for allegedly demanding money from a businessman.

• August 8: Two ULFA cadres, Gopal Sarma alias Kancha Tamang and Pradip Sarma alias Sarat Gurung, managed to escape from the outfit's Myanmar camp recently and are currently taking shelter at the Moran-based designated camp of the ceasefire group. Peacenik Jiten Dutta said the duo, hailing from the Disangmukh area in Sivasagar District, was in touch with the ceasefire group for some time and had expressed their desire to join them.

  Security arrangements in and around the city of Guwahati has been strengthened in view of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, reports Sentinel. The recent subversive activities by ULFA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), particularly the blast at Goalpara and recovery of grenades at Guwahati Railway Station premises, have prompted the District administration to install regular checking posts outside the station. Sources also confirmed that the strength of CRPF and paramilitary forces in the city has been increased.

• August 7: SFs arrested two ULFA cadres, Bitupon Gogoi and Suresh Baruah, from Mohkhuti area under Demow Police Station in Sivasagar District. Two hand grenades were recovered from them.

  Two cadres of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA, Bhabesh Mahanta and Nibaron Bora, were arrested by the Police in connection with an attempted robbery case in the Arikuch area of Nalbari District.

• August 5: A bag containing 10 hand grenades was found at Guwahati railway station, raising fears of militant attacks in the run-up to Independence Day (August 15). A Government Railway Police (GRP) constable spotted the bag around 2.30 am. Senior officials and a bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot. On examination, the bomb experts said these were .36 high explosive grenades. It is suspected that the grenades were brought in by either ULFA or NDFB militants to carry out strikes in the city ahead of Independence Day.

• August 3: One major ULFA leader surrendered with arms along with his wife and lone minor daughter before the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dhubri District. Rajesh Barman alias Sahadeva Roy (39), 'sergeant major' of the '709^th Battalion' of the ULFA, wife Puja Barman alias Babita Roy (35) and one year old daughter surrendered before Dhubri SP. Rajesh joined the militant group in 1994 and got trained in arms in Bhutan. The surrendered militant hails from No.2 Kanupara village under Kachugaon Police Station of Kokrajhar District. He surrendered with a Bulgarian made 9-mm Pistol and 12 rounds of live ammunitions - Police sources said.

• August 2: Assam Tribune reports that the leaders of the ULFA asked the cadres to target SFs and Central Government installations. However, the ULFA cadres were asked to avoid killing of civilians as far as possible, Police sources said. Sources said that in recent times, the '109^th battalion' of the ULFA has become active in lower Assam Districts, particularly in Goalpara District and the recent ambush of CRPF personnel, proved the intercepts to be correct. On the activities of the other battalions of the ULFA, sources revealed that recently Police and SFs foiled a bid by the '27^th battalion' of the outfit, headed by Nayan Medhi to target the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL). Sources, however, refused to divulge the details of the operation.

  The '28^th battalion' is concentrating more on launching extortion drive in recent times members of the unit have not launched any major offensive. After the surrender of a number of cadres, the leaders of the unit are apprehensive of sending cadres to Assam from their bases in Myanmar, sources added. The '709^th battalion' headed by Hira Sarania has not indulged in major act of violence in recent times and Police believes that Sarania is closer to the ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and the possibility of his agreeing for talks in future cannot be ruled out.

  A 10-member group of the ULFA built tent on some chaporis (sandbars) along the Brahmaputra River close to Majuli Island to intensify its operations in the Upper Assam Districts, according to Telegraph. Sources in the State Intelligence Bureau said the group was taking shelter at a few chaporis near Lakhimpur District and coordinating a fund collection drive in Lakhimpur, Jorhat and Golaghat Districts. "The group, led by Biplab Barua of Sivasagar district, is using the river network and was shuttling between Sikoli Chapori and Charai Chapori till a few weeks back it is distributing extortion notes among businessmen in Lakhimpur, Golaghat and Jorhat districts," the source said.

  RDX weighing five kilogrammes was recovered from Majuli, the River Island. The recovery in the wake of some ULFA militants pitching tent in the area as reported in The Telegraph has triggered speculation among Security Forces over whether the outfit was using the island to stock arms and explosives to carry out strikes in the neighbouring Districts in the run-up to Independence Day. The sub-divisional Police Officer, Majuli, Amitabh Basumatary, said the consignment was buried in the courtyard of a villager at Morihuti under Jengraimukh Police Station, bordering Lakhimpur District. "The consignment was probably kept by Ulfa militant Rajib Bora who hails from Majuli. We suspect that more such consignments are being kept on the island," Basumatary said. The owner of the house, Umesh Saikia, is absconding.

  Two ULFA militants belonging to the '907^th battalion', identified as self-styled 'sergeant' Rajesh Barman and self-styled 'corporal' Puja Barman surrendered before Dhubri Superintendent of Police Dipak Choudhury.

  Jailed leaders of ULFA told Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) spokesman Hiren Gohain during his visit to the Guwahati Jail that they were not in a position to make any public statement from inside the jail. Gohain said that he had been told by the jailed leaders of the outfit that scopes were there to misinterpret their public statements from inside the jail as something made under pressure. Meanwhile, Gohain said that on behalf of the SJA, Rohini Barua has already issued a statement to the effect that both the Government and ULFA need to observe restraint so that preparations for talks between the two sides are not affected.

• August 1: Confusion prevails over the identity of the outfit that triggered a blast in Goalpara on July 30. Suspicion has fallen on the ULFA and the anti-talks faction of the NDFB. A central intelligence source said Goalpara Police appeared to be confused as Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had on July 30 condemned the attack without specifying any outfit. Director-General of police Shankar Barua has rushed to Goalpara and taken up the investigation to end the confusion before zeroing in on a militant group, the source said.According to him, ULFA and the anti-talks faction of the NDFB after being marginalised have been seeking each other's support to survive.

  The outfits have been on extortion drives jointly in lower Assam districts, particularly in Goalpara and Kamrup. Sources said at the instance of the 'commandant' of '109^th battalion' of ULFA, Drishti Rajkhowa, Gulit Das and Pradeep Basumatary of the battalion had been operating an extortion network in Goalpara since March 2010. Rajkhowa has been camping in Bangladesh and Das was acting as the de facto 'commandant' of the ULFA battalion, they said.

  A bomb expert of '709^th battalion' of the ULFA, Bolen Kalita, was arrested from a rented house at Bodo Basti in the Noonmati Police Station area. Kalita was arrested in a joint operation by SFs. A cellular phone and two subscriber identity module (SIM) cards were recovered from his possession.

• July 31: An ULFA linkman Taimur Ali, was arrested by the Army from Barkuriya area under Rangia Police Station on, reports Sentinel. The Army recovered 1.5 kilogramme explosive and 20 detonators from his possession.

• July 30: At least five CRPF troopers were killed and 33 others injured, when the ULFA triggered an IED blast by damaging a bus at Bhalukdubi under Goalpara District. Anu Buragohain, who introduced himself as the 'spokesperson' of ULFA, called up a local television channel claiming that the blast was carried out by the outfit. He said though ULFA had 'remained quiet' for some time, Security Forces continued to target its cadres and that is why it had retaliated. He warned of more such strikes. Intelligence sources, however, did not rule out the possibility of the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants executing the blast at the behest of ULFA. "The precision of the execution certainly points to such a possibility," a source said.

  Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the anti-talk factions of the ULFA and the NDFB might be responsible for July 30 bomb blast in Goalpara District in Assam where CRPF troopers were killed. He said that the personnel were targeted when they were returning from an Army training centre. Chidambaram said that a faction each of the ULFA and the NDFB had not joined the peace process. "These groups may be behind the blast today," he added.

  P. Chidambaram said factions of ULFA and NDFB were not ready for talks with the Centre, added Telegraph. He was speaking at the monthly presentation of his Ministry's report card on July 30. "Not all rebel groups have come to the table. One faction of the NDFB and another of Ulfa are against talks," Chidambaram told reporters. Terming this incident as "very sad", Chidambaram said it was still unclear who perpetrated the attack on the CRPF convoy.

  An ULFA militant was arrested by SFs from Barama in Baksa District and several extortion notes and documents were recovered from him.

  Security has been beefed up in lower Assam ahead of Independence Day following intelligence reports that NDFB and ULFA militants would carry out subversive activities, according to Shillong Times. The militants have brought in huge quantities of RDX and other explosives in the region, official sources said quoting the reports. The explosives were suspected to have been brought to Guwahati, Goalpara or South Kamrup and search operations have been intensified in these areas.

• July 28: A ULFA cadre, Columbus Marak (27), was arrested by the BSF from Hathimara in West Garo Hills District. He was arrested by West Garo Hills Police for carrying out criminal activities, including extortion, in Garo hills in February 2008, escaped from Tura Jail with three others the next month after beating up the warden. He is a cadre of the '109th battalion' of ULFA, had been at large since then and was on the wanted list of Meghalaya Police. According to the BSF, Colombus had undergone training in Bhutan in 2003 before he was sent to operate in Garo hills where he was engaged in large scale extortion.

  A ULFA linkman, Golzim A. Sangma (19) of Chibongre village in the West Garo Hills was arrested by the BSF at Mahendraganj border outpost in West Garo Hills District.

• July 27: A security alert had been sounded across the State in view of the "Swahid Divas" (Martyrs' Day) of the ULFA and the Independence Day on August 15, reports Sentinel. According to sources, the State Police Department is not taking any chances and has asked all Police Stations to remain prepared to tackle any eventuality that may arise out of the ULFA's bid to carry out subversive activities to mark the "Swahid Divas" on July 27.

• July 26: Pro-talks ULFA 'chairman' Mrinal Hazarika has sought legal action against the All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) leaders involved in the Barpeta incident and said that the Bangladeshi issue has assumed serious proportions in Assam only because of the Jamiat. Reacting to statement issued to a section of the media by leaders of the AAMSU, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and Jamiat that the ULFA leaders should be called Bangladeshis as they had stayed in Bangladesh for long, Hazarika said, "When war breaks out between two parties, one of them being a government, the party opposed to the government normally seeks the help of neighbouring countries. ULFA leaders did take refuse in Bangladesh but many of the ULFA men were active in Assam itself."

• July 25: Five ULFA linkmen, identified as Kapil Rabha, Jalal Ahmed, Banomali Das, Arup Das and Ananta Rabha were arrested by the Army on National Highway 37 at Tiplai on while they were travelling to Rongjuli from Dhupdhara in Goalpara in a Tata Sumo. The Army recovered four pistols, extortion pads and receipt books from their possession.

• July 24: Three ULFA cadres, Tapan Barman, Debojit Ray and Mahant Singh, were arrested by the Police from Bijni in Chirang District.

• July 23: Peace interlocutor P.C. Haldar met the jailed members of the central executive members of the ULFA at the Guwahati Central Jail. Haldar discussed various issues with the jailed ULFA leaders for almost an hour. Exact content of the discussion were not made public. Haldar also had a meeting with the members of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) where six members of the SJA participated.

  The ULFA appealed to its jailed leaders not to give up the demand for sovereignty. In a release, the ULFA said that there is no alternative to sovereignty of Assam and if the outfit gives up the demand, it would mean bowing down before the enemy, according to Assam Tribune. The release was signed by self-styled 'Lieutenant' of the ULFA, Anu Buragohain, who is a member of the central publicity wing of the outfit.

• July 22: President of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA, Mrinal Hazarika, said that Barpeta violence was a pre-planned act by certain sections to stop updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951.

• July 21: Former Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), P.C. Haldar, who was appointed an interlocutor for talks with the ULFA, arrived at Guwahati on a three-day visit aimed at preparing the ground for negotiations with the outfit. During his stay here, Haldar will do the spadework for an ULFA-Delhi dialogue by holding consultations with stakeholders, including ULFA leaders, civil society groups, intelligentsia and senior Government officials.

• July 20: A ULFA militant, Biplob Baruah alias Tinku Phukon (25), was shot dead by Security Forces (SFs) in an encounter at Jokai Ghitiapathar, Borbeel village in Dibrugarh District. He is the first cadre to be killed by the SFs after he rejoined the outfit after fleeing from the Kakopathar designated camp. Dibrugarh Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, Headquarters) Debasish Sarma said the Police had received clues about the presence of the ULFA militant from another cadre of the outfit who was arrested from Namrup on July 19. "We have recovered a universal machine gun, a drum magazine, 15 rounds of live ammunition, a satellite phone disc, some cell-phone recharge vouchers, 20 batteries, a heavy battery, probably used in a motorcycle, five electronic detonators and the like from the encounter site," the additional SP said. Five cadres had fled from the Kakopathar camp in the past two years after the Alpha and Charlie companies of '28^th Battalion' of ULFA declared unilateral cease-fire.

• July 18: Bangladesh authorities have registered four cases against ULFA militant Ranjan Chowdhury and his associate whose arrest was announced. A court in Kishoreganj in northeastern region remanded the two to three-days custody of the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The cases have been registered against Chowdhury under arms, explosive substances and anti-terror laws.

• July 17: The personnel of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested two ULFA militants from Bhairab in north Kishorganj area of Dhaka. The duo, Ranjan Chowdhury (45) and Pradip Marak (55), were taken into custody from the Lakkhipur area of Bhairab, RAB spokesperson lieutenant commander Mohammad Sohail said. A sophisticated pistol, a revolver and four small bombs were recovered from the duo, he said. The duo was arrested while they were waiting to board a bus to Sherpur District, he added. Chowdhury told RAB officials that he hailed from Madhusolmari at Gauripur of Dhubri District in Assam. He had joined ULFA in 1988 and undergone three months of training. "He then went to Bhutan to meet ULFA's top commander (military wing) Paresh Barua in June 1995 and was arrested by Indian security forces on his return a month later," Sohail said. Chowdhury was detained in a Guwahati jail for a year and released in 1996.

• July 14: An encounter between three ULFA cadres and Police was reported from Deodhaigaon Bezapathar under Khowang Police Station in Dibrugarh District. However, all the three militants managed to escape from the encounter site. An ULFA linkman was subsequently arrested by a joint team of the Police and Army from the village. "We have picked up an ULFA linkman and recovered an Apache motorcycle from the encounter site. Our operations are on to track down the fleeing militants," Dibrugarh Superintendent of Police Arabinda Kalita Kalita said over phone.

  Intelligence agencies had earlier received reports that a 15-member ULFA group had entered Dibrugarh District from Myanmar through Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh. They said the group has hardcore cadres like Samudra Nirmaliya and Gojen Konwar. However, the 15 to 20-member group was not moving together. "They have split into groups of two or three and are working in areas like Joypur, Tingkhong, Namrup, Naharkatia, Duliajan and Moran. They have also served extortion notes to some businessmen," a Police official said. "Ulfa is desperately trying to make its presence felt in Upper Assam by making efforts to rebuild its network in the villages," the official added. The Police also believe that the hardliners within ULFA were encouraged by the fact that the direct talks between the Centre and the outfit were not making much headway.

• July 13: Nagaland Page reports that four militant groups of Manipur, ULFA and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplang (NSCN-K) have jointly decided to put up a joint front against the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) in Manipur, following a senior level meeting held in Bangladesh recently. According to sources, United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Liberation Army (PLA), ULFA, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), PREPAK and NSCN-K discussed the prevailing situation in Manipur and Nagaland and expressed their satisfaction in putting up a joint front against NSCN-IM in Manipur. UNLF 'chairman', R.K. Meghan reiterated the aim to achieve independence of Manipur and integration of Kabaw valley of Myanmar. He expressed his desire of having good relationship with the NSCN-K, PLA and ULFA. Meghan also pressed upon having strong bondage with Paresh Baruah, 'commander-in-chief' of ULFA in restoring glory of Ahoms and Meitei confederacy.

  ULFA linkman, Koushik Choudhuri (27), was arrested in a joint operation by the Police and the army from Kamargaon village in Barpeta District. Police recovered one writing pad of ULFA from his possession.

• July 12: Assam Environment and Forest Minister Rokybul Hussain informed the State Legislative Assembly that militants killed 1,549 civilians and 205 Security Forces (SFs) between 2001 and June 2010. In the armed encounters between the SFs and the ULFA, NDFB, KLNLF etc, 1,703 militants were killed during this period. 144 innocent persons were killed when SFs opened fire to bring law and order situation under control during the period.

  The Minister said that in the incidents of encounter between the SFs and the militants, 26 civilians were killed during the period. During this period, 2,043 ULFA cadres, 899 NDFB cadres and 102 KLNLF cadres surrendered before the Government and 10,242 members of various militant outfits were arrested. He also told the House that so far six ULFA leaders and 53 cadres of the outfit are in jail and between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010 two of its leaders and 164 cadres were released on bail. The Government is interested in holding talks with ULFA, he said.

  Further, he said the House that six militant outfits are active in the State at present. These organisations include-ULFA, NDFB, All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Hmar People's Convention- Democracy (HPC-D), Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM). According to him seven new outfits are active - Liberation Democratic Council of Mising Land (LDCM), United Tribal Liberation Front (UTLF), United Tribal Revolutionary Army (UTRA), Dimasa National Liberation Front (DNLF), Gorkha Liberation Army (GLA), Hills Tiger Force (HTF) and Santhal Tiger Force (STF) have come to light, said the Minister.

• July 11: The Union Government decided to hold talks with jailed leaders of militant outfits in "special jails", thus ruling out the possibility of releasing them for starting a dialogue, reports Telegraph. Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said there was no impediment to holding talks even if the leaders were in jail since the exercise could be conducted at venues which may be designated as special jails where they may be shifted for the purpose.

  However, the process of shifting the leaders to a special jail would involve the judiciary, which has to give permission to move out anyone in judicial custody. The step would meet halfway the demand from various quarters and the jailed leaders themselves for their release for talks. Holding the leaders in these special jails would mean they are not in prisons and yet they would remain in custody. Pillai said the same formula would apply to ULFA leaders as well. Further, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 11 said the peace process was on and there was no "stalemate", as apprehended by the steering committee, and asked elusive ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua to come forward for negotiation.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that peace process with the ULFA was "on the right track". "There is no stalemate and the peace process is definitely on the right track," he said. Gogoi said that efforts were on to rope in more ULFA leaders who were outside India.

• July 9: Assam Tribune reports that official sources said that the Government of India is likely to wait for the ULFA leaders to make the first move for talks. A delegation of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) recently met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister with the request to start the talk's process. Sources said that the stand of the Government of India on the issue of talks with any militant group is very clear. To start the process of talks, the militant groups must abjure violence and all talks must be held within the framework of the Constitution of India.

  The ULFA leaders have not so far announced their willingness to come for talks within the framework of the Constitution of India and the Centre would start the process only after receiving a formal communication from the top leaders of the outfit, sources added. Sources further clarified that as the top leaders of the ULFA including the 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa were under judicial custody, the Government cannot release them. However, they can obtain bail from the court if the State Government does not oppose their bail plea and so far no such decision has been taken, sources added.

  Sentinel reports of extortion in Digboi and Tinsukia were received following the extortion threat to Oil Company Canoro operating in Sonari area,. Canoro has sought Union Government’s help after it received an extortion note demanding INR five million. ‘Sergeant Major’ of ‘28th Battalion’ of ULFA Pradip Baruah alias Rajib Das along with an 11-member group is allegedly operating in Lakhimpur and other Upper Assam Districts. A couple of weeks ago, one Mintu Saikia alias Madhav Das, a SULFA cadre of Merapani was arrested along with three others for collecting huge sums of money from tea gardens and other companies and individuals in the name of ULFA’s Rupantar Kakati and Bijoy Chinese.

  The ULFA has condemned July 8 bomb blast on the rail track at Gossaigaon Balubil and also termed it as an "inhuman" act. In the statement, signed by its ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua, the outfit also mourned the death of minor boy in the incident. "Such incidents can never bring about liberty for the people of the country, rather, such incidents are attacks on the indigenous peoples," Barua said. To save the country and people from the conspiracies of the enemies, Paresh Barua had made an appeal to those who triggered the blast not to target the indigenous peoples of Assam.

  All Police Stations in upper Assam were asked to beef up security and to remain alert following Intelligence reports indicating alleged entry of ULFA cadres of the ‘28th Battalion’ in Majuli a few weeks ago and fanning out from there. Intelligence sources hinted that a few more ULFA cadres had entered Majuli on July 7 and sources have reported that high Police officials are doing the rounds of interior areas in this connection for the last few days.

• July 8: A cadre of '709 battalion' ULFA, Bijoy Deka was arrested by Police from Beltola area in Guwahati, on charges of extortion,

• July 7: A national TV channel and Intelligence sources on July 5 reported that ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah was provided safe home in Pakistan by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Earlier it was reported that he was shifted to Kachin province of Myanmar following Bangladesh crackdown on Northeast insurgents. Sources said, Barua was escorted by the ISI from his hideout in Chittagong Hills Tract and brought to an undisclosed location of Pakistan.

  A section of anti-Awami League (AL) elements in the SFs helped ISI to ferry out the ULFA commander. He is also believed to be in touch with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) to launch ‘sleeper cells’ in the State.

• July 5: Atul Bordoloi of Pulibor area under Pulibor Police Station of Jorhat District was arrested on charges of an extortion case by Jorhat Police. Police sources said the arrested person is involved with extortion from various persons of the District with the help of ULFA.

  The steering committee of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) has asked the Government to issue a clear and unequivocal statement forthwith on objectives and modalities of the proposed talks between it and the ULFA, and to allay the fears of the general public on the issue. Spokesman of the SJA Hiren Gohain said in a statement that the committee would like to place on record its deep dismay at the way Government circles have proceeded in the matter of resumption of the stalled talks with ULFA.

• July 4: A ULFA cadre, identified as Montu Dehingia alias Aman Mohan and another youth, secretary of the regional unit of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), were arrested at Dholla in Tinsukia District. A pistol along with five live rounds and four ULFA extortion letters were recovered from the possession of the duo. The Army and Police are currently conducting operations based on the information provided by the two. There were reports of ULFA cadres serving extortion notes to officials of tea gardens along the Assam-Arunachal border, the most recent being from Pengeri.

• July 2: Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Diganta Bora told that the two ULFA cadres, Amjad Chetia and Akon Moran, had teamed up with a heavily armed ULFA group after roaming around with the AK-series rifles and other arms and ammunition they had fled with for some time. The Police had later confiscated all the arms at the designated camp. Both had fled the designated camp of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA at Kakopathar in Tinsukia District in early 2009 have become the latest challenge for SFs in the District and along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary.

  ULFA has suddenly become active in Tinsukia District, the latest being targeting the tea industry for money, sources in SFs and intelligence agencies said. Through these operations, the anti-talks group is trying to make its presence felt, they added. The meeting of the Unified Command drew up an elaborate strategy with some re-adjustments and redeployment of, SFs a Police official said. The SFs identified certain zones like the Tarani-Sikorajan-Kenduguri-Mohong-New Mohong-Maithong-Betoni as the focal points for their operations as intelligence agencies have reported frequent movement of the ULFA group in these areas.

• July 1: The Government indicated that it will not release the jailed ULFA leadership to facilitate the peace process. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "How can we release them (ULFA leaders)? It depends on the judiciary to decide whether or not to release them." He was reacting to the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's statement in New Delhi on June 30 that there was no immediate plan to release the jailed leaders.

  Suspected ULFA militants assaulted the manager of a tea garden and an employee before setting ablaze two mini trucks and a motorcycle in the estate at Bijulibon under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District. The armed group of seven cadres, believed to be ULFA cadres, assault Sadhan Kumar Tamuli, the manager of Luit tea estate, and an employee, Bhaskar Jyoti Changmai Phukon, while the duo were on their way to the garden.

• June 30: The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in New Delhi that the detained ULFA leaders could talk with the Government from the prison, reports Assam Tribune. Further, Chidambaram maintained that the ULFA leaders were in judicial custody and utive cannot release anybody who is in judicial custody. His response was same as the reply he gave to a Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) delegation last week. Virtually ruling out the possibility of releasing the ULFA leaders, the Union Home Minister had cited serious legal charges pending against them.

• June 28: The families of those reportedly killed in blasts and other violent activity of the ULFA have demanded punishment to the cadres of the outfit as per the Constitution of India involved in the killings. They also opposed any move to release the jailed ULFA leaders in the name of peace talks.

• June 27: Two ULFA cadres, Romen Bhuyan and Puspa Doley, surrendered in Lakhimpur. They deposited an M-22 rifle, 16 detonators, AK-47 ammunition and letter pads.

• June 26: chief convenor of the steering committee of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) Hiren Gohain on June 26 said that they had very little to say on the reaction of ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua to their effort to resolve the vexed ULFA insurgency issue. However, he described the reaction of Paresh Barua to their effort as 'entirely negative.'

• June 25: In a setback to the efforts of a civil society group in reviving talks with the ULFA, the outfit on said the body of senior citizens and intellectuals do not represent the common people. In an e-mail to the media, ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah rejected the recent move of Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) to move the Union Government to hasten the talks process. "It is the view of ULFA and we have nothing to say," Gohain said on arrival from New Delhi in reply. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had on June 24 said peace talks with ULFA would take place even if Baruah stays away.

  A ULFA area 'commander' was shot dead by SFs at Udalguri.

  The Police arrested eight militants, including four ULFA cadres, from various parts of the Guwahati city. The ULFA cadres had been identified as Tapan Deka, Naba Kumar Das and Bidyut Kalita. Another cadre, identified as Manas Roy, was arrested from Chandmari area. The Police also recovered explosives weighing 700 grammes, a laptop, a pen drive, 15 subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and five cell phones after it raided a house in Noonmati area. The other four arrested militants include two cadres of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and as many cadres of Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF), a newly-formed outfit of Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

• June 24: Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister B.K. Handique said the peace initiatives with the ULFA is in right direction, but demand of NSCN-IM for Greater Nagaland can not be met. He said, "It does not matter if the ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah attends the peace meet or not since the interest of Assam has to be topmost in everybody's mind not any leader's wishes." Assam Tribune added that he hinted at the possibility of considering the rebels' demand for grant of amnesty during talks.

  The ceasefire group of ULFA reiterated its demand before the Union and the State Governments to expedite the peace process with the outfit, during a celebration at the Kakopathar designated camp to mark the completion of the second year of the unilateral ceasefire.

• June 23: The Union Government said it wanted ULFA leaders to come for a dialogue with "dignity" but left the issue of the release of those in jail to the judiciary and the Assam Government. The release of the leaders was discussed between prominent Assamese citizens, led by Hiren Gohain, and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Gohain later said, "Chidambaram said those who come for talks will be allowed to come with dignity and not as criminals with charges."

  Pro-talks leader and former commanding officer of the outfit's '28^th battalion' of the ULFA, Mrinal Hazarika, said, "There is no question of frustration. It is totally immaterial as to who did what. We have maintained right from the first day when we declared unilateral ceasefire that we will be happy to even sacrifice our lives if Assam can have permanent peace. That statement still stays. The basic thing is that we all want peace, that's all."

  One ULFA cadre, Ajay Deka alias Pallav Baruah, was arrested by the troops from village Balipota under Kalaigaon Police Station in Darrang District. The cadre is an active member of the 'publicity wing' of '27^th battalion' of the ULFA and was reportedly operating in Sonitpur District.

• June 21: In its meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi slated for to explore the possibility of opening peace talks with the ULFA, the six-member steering committee of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhivartan (SJA) led by Hiren Gohain would raise the issue of release of the jailed ULFA leaders so as to enable the outfit to take a decision of peace talks with the Government, sources said. The sources also said that the SJA team might also appeal to the Prime Minister to put on hold all cases against the jailed ULFA leaders till the peace talks were over, but there were no likelihood of the delegation raising the demand for talks on 'sovereignty' as a member of the delegation had told newsmen in Guwahati before leaving for New Delhi that he personally did not support talks on sovereignty.

• June 18: Sentinel reports that a group of ten ULFA cadres has entered the Guwahati city to carry out extortion and subversive activities as per directions from commandant of '709 battalion' Hira Sarania. "Sarania has directed the ULFA team to carry out extortion and subversive activities in Guwahati city." The presence of the outfit had been confirmed by ULFA's 709 battalion cadre Binoy Baishya who was arrested on June 17. Based on the confessional statement made by Binoy, the Police are hunting for other ULFA activists holed up in the city. Police sources said Binoy was one of the accused in the abduction and murder of Food Corporation of India (FCI) officer P.C. Ram.

• June 17: A senior ULFA cadre, Darika Saikia, was killed by SFs during an encounter at Gondhia Gharmora village in Lakhimpur District. However, three others managed to escape from the incident site.

  A cadre belonging to '709^th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Binoy Baishya, was arrested by the Police from Panjabari in Guwahati city. Five rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ULFA outfit was heading for a split and sharp cracks have surfaced. He said that half of the central committee members were in jail and the rest are outside Assam. "Yes, there is a division within the outfit," he observed. "Paresh Barua is not keen for talks. But even then we are trying, though we are prepared to go ahead even without him," he said, adding that Government was prepared to grant him safe passage, in case he turns up for talks. He admitted that it was not numbers, but the ULFA military chief's firepower and the potential to create trouble that is bothering the Government.

  The Chief Minister also ruled out the possibility of declaring a unilateral cease-fire, asserting that the Government had information that Paresh Barua's group was still trying to foment problem in the State. He further disclosed that Barua was not opposed to dialogue but he wants to discuss about 'sovereignty', which Government does not want to discuss. "Sovereignty is non-negotiable and we have made it clear," he said.

  A group of ULFA militants attacked the Bajrangpur tea estate and attempted to kill manager Indra Kumar Baruah in Tinsukia District. Intelligence sources said that the attack by ULFA militants showed that the outfit was in the process of recovering lost ground in the Tinsukia District. The attack was said to be the fallout of the garden authorities' refusal to pay INR one million demanded by the outfit in January, 2010. According to intelligence inputs, some groups of ULFA cadres have either entered the District with arms and explosives or are taking shelter in the inter-state border areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The sources also said Arindam Saharia alias Bijoy Kalita - who was arrested in Siliguri of West Bengal, along with former commanding officer of the outfit's '28 battalion' Mrinal Hazarika and later granted bail rejoined the outfit and had been leading the cadres to re-establish bases in Upper Assam, particularly in Tinsukia District.

  Manik Chandra Baishya, senior engineer of the technical branch of the State Agriculture Directorate, Khanapara of Guwahati city, was abducted and killed for money. The Police subsequently arrested three persons, including the driver of Baishya, on the charge of committing the crime. The arrested include Baishya's driver Ganesh Bharali, Ramendra Bharali and Dinesh Das. The Police confirmed that the ULFA had demanded money from Manik Chandra Baishya, senior engineer of the technical branch of the State Agriculture Directorate, Khanapara of Guwahati city, but said that only investigation would reveal if the outfit was involved in the killing of the engineer.

• June 16: The former Director of Intelligence Bureau, P.C. Haldar, would be appointed as the interlocutor for the negotiation with the ULFA. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi suggested his name to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. The Union Home Minister has given the "go ahead" and assured of all possible assistance to the State Government to start the peace process, said Gogoi. The Chief Minister said, "He has given us the go ahead."

• June 14: The body of former ULFA leaders, All Assam Prakton ULFA Samannayarakshi Sommittee, on June 14 said that talks between the Government and the outfit should be held without any precondition set by either side. The association also said that the rights of the indigenous people should figure in the peace talks failing which the former ULFA cadres would resort to andolan (movement) once again.

  Assam Tribune added that the association further warned that if the State Government fails to meet their demands on rehabilitation packages and withdrawal of the TADA cases within a month's time, they will go for a State wide 'militant democratic' agitation. The former ULFA members, who have returned to the mainstream either by surrendering or without surrendering before the authorities, number around 14,000.

• June 13: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ULFA had formally expressed its willingness to open peace talks with the Government to end more than three decades of violent insurgency in the State, reports Assam Tribune. "We have got a formal communication from the ULFA regarding holding peace talks," the Chief Minister said. He also said, "We also appeal to Paresh Baruah to come and join the peace process. Efforts are also on with other military commanders of the ULFA to get them into the negotiating process."

• June 12: A ULFA cadre, Kishore Das alias Puali, was arrested by the Police from Amingaon area under Jhalukbari Police Station in Guwahati city. According to Police sources, Puali came to Guwahati following a directive from 'commander' Heera Sarania of '709^th battalion' of the ULFA.

  A senior cadre Dimbeswar Roy of the '109^th battalion' of the ULFA, surrendered before Kokrajhar Police. The Police said the ULFA cadre, who joined the outfit in 1998. He deposited one grenade and confessed that he had been involved in extortion drives in the lower Assam Districts. He is from Borpathar under Bijni Police Station in Chirang District.

• June 10: A ULFA linkman, Firoz Rahman of Bhatipara in Goalpara town, was arrested by the SFs from Paikan in Goalpara District.

• June 9: Assam Tribune quoting sources revealed that the 'council headquarters' of the ULFA in Myanmar is headed by senior leader Jiban Moran, while, another camp is headed by Prakash Baruah, while, the headquarter of the '28^th battalion' located near the NSCN-K camp is headed by Bijoy Das alias Bijoy Chinese, reports Assam Tribune. The total strength of the ULFA cadres in Myanmar would be around 100 or so. A number of hardcore militants belonging to the ULFA have sent feelers to the Police and Security Forces to express their desire to come over ground following the arrests of the top leaders of the outfit.

• June 7: The ULFA is unlikely to formally express its willingness to sit for the proposed peace talks with the Government until Bangladesh hands over its 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, despite the apparent desire of its leaders in Assam to start the process at the earliest. A section associated with the process said, ULFA leaders were convinced that inclusion of Chetia in the process would not only be a big boost to the fledgling initiative but would also send the right signal to its cadres and masses about "unity" in its rank and file. ULFA 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary said at Nalbari that Dispur's insistence on a formal letter to start the process has become a dilemma for the outfit, which it would like to sort out in accordance with its constitution.

  Sentinel reports that the report submitted to the Union Government by the IB stated that the ULFA is no longer a force to reckon with. In its report on peace talks with the ULFA and the law-and-order situation in Assam, the IB official said, the IB clearly mentioned that unlike the NSCN-IM in Nagaland, the ULFA was not the "sole representative" of the people of Assam, and hence the Centre directly holding peace talks with ULFA would be simply giving the outfit more importance that it deserved.

• June 6: Sentinel reports that 13 militant organizations from the Northeast States of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya figure in the list of banned organizations as it appears in the website of the Union Home Ministry (MHA). The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) heads the list. The other outfits were: National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), People's Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC).

  Dutta also referred to specific inputs that KLO 'chief' Jiban Sing was presently roaming in the border areas of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Dhubri Districts of lower Assam keeping nexus with ULFA cadres to strengthen militant activities. He also did not rule out the movement of CPI-Maoist cadres in the bordering area, but said that strong vigil was being maintained.

• June 5: Bangladesh Police arrested a ULFA leader, Ranju Chowdhury alias Rattan Sarkar, from Mymensingh District months after the chief of the separatist outfit Arbinda Rajkhowa was handed over to Indian authorities.

  Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said that a number of top commanders and leaders of the ULFA based in Bangladesh and Myanmar are expected to surrender shortly and join the peace process. Pillai was in Meghalaya on a three-day visit to review the security situation that concluded. "There are legal problems in extraditing Anup Chetia as he had moved a petition seeking political asylum," the Home Secretary said.

  G.K. Pillai said that there was evidence of CPI-Maoists establishing links with insurgents in the Northeastern region. Thuingaleng Muivah, leader of the NSCN-IM, admitted that the CPI -Maoists had approached him. Intelligence sources said that the Naga separatist group helped the CPI-Maoists in arms-smuggling through Myanmar and Bangladesh. The CPI-Maoists also established links with the banned ULFA and the Manipur-based PLA.

• May 31: Sentinel reports that SFs neutralised an isolated ULFA hideout in a Char (riverine) area at Bangalpota near Rangamati under Mangaldai Police Station in Darrang District on an unspecified date. ULFA cadre Deepak Kalita alias Pradeep alias Bhaiti and linkman Indra Nath were arrested in the operation from Char area. They were involved in various subversive activities including extortions sponsored by '27^th battalion' of the ULFA. One revolver with six rounds, two magazines of AK-47 with 30 live rounds, two cellular phones and Aircel recharge vouchers worth INR 884 and some ULFA related documents were recovered from the hideout.

  May 31: The central committee leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), including 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary, met in the central jail on the issue of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's statement on May 30 that the outfit should send a formal proposal for peace talks to the Government, reports Sentinel. Pradip Gogoi said, "This proposal should come from the government formally. Any decision on this issue will be taken by the organization, but prior to that, we want all the jailed ULFA leaders should be freed."

• May 30: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asked the ULFA to formally apprise the State Government of its decision on peace talks to end three decades of insurgency in the region, according to Sentinel. He said that the rebel group should tell the Government what they want and the Government would discuss their proposals in detail, and do whatever was possible to get the talk process going.

• May 28: ULFA said that it had never agreed to start a dialogue without Paresh Barua, reports Telegraph. Its 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary, in a signed ULFA press note issued, welcomed the decision, but clarified the outfit's position vis-à-vis Barua. He said, "At this moment, it is the first and foremost responsibility of the government to create the right atmosphere for the Ulfa leadership to take a decision on the proposed political dialogue. Since no formal decision has been taken by us, the question of leaving out Paresh Barua does not arise. We have never said talks will be held without him nor did the 'national convention' held in Guwahati take any such decision. We, therefore, request the people of the state not to be misled by such reports," Daimary clarified.

• May 27: With the Assam Government deciding in principle to initiate talks with the ULFA, the outfit responded by saying that any decision on its participation would be taken by its 'general council'. ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa said that he could not comment till the 'general council' decided on the issue.

  Assam Government stated that the role of the Union Government's interlocutor P.C. Haldar will "remain intact" despite Union Government handing over the mandate to carry forward the political process with insurgent outfits to the State Government.

• May 26: The Assam State Cabinet decided to start the process of talks with the ULFA without Paresh Baruah, the 'commander-in-chief' of the outfit, who is still maintaining a rigid stand on the issue of talks. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Government waited for Paresh Baruah for a long time and there was no reason to wait for him for an indefinite period. He said that the Government received indication that majority of the leaders of the ULFA are in favour of talks and the Government has decided to go ahead and start the process without waiting for Paresh Baruah. However, at the same time, he said that the State Government would intimate the Centre about the Cabinet decision and wait for the response from the ULFA before taking the next step.

• May 25: Self-styled 'lance corporal' of '28^th battalion' of the ULFA, Panjal Baruah alias Jayanta Sonowal, surrendered before SFs in Tinsukia District.

  Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in Guwahati said that there had been a dramatic improvement in the State's security scenario. He said that a number of leaders of the major insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and the BW had been arrested. He also informed that while the Chief Minister has been asked to carry forward the political process for negotiation with the militant outfits the Security Forces have been instructed 'to continue implementing the policy that is in force.'

  Union Home Minister said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would take decisions on peace talks with the ULFA - when, with whom and how- and that the Union Government would extend all help towards that end. Toughening New Delhi's stand on countering-insurgency operations in Assam, he said that security offensive would continue in full steam till the militant outfits lay down arms and surrender.

• May 24: Assam Tribune reports that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Dispur said, "The law-and-order situation has improved and groups like ULFA and NDFB, besides others have realised the futility of violence, which is a good sign." while renewing his appeal to ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah to come for peace talks.

• May 23: A large quantity of explosives, suspected to be belonging to ULFA, was recovered by the SFs from Joypur reserve forest of Dibrugarh District. The team recovered plastic explosives, Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), electric wires, accessories and IED along with a rubber stamp of the ULFA.

• May 21: A ULFA linkman, Raju Sarkar (45), was arrested by the SFs from Salbari in Kokrajhar District. A pistol, four rounds of ammunition and several extortion notes were recovered from his possession.

  Assam Tribune reports that security sources said that the ULFA has started a massive drive to extort money to boost its coffers and a number of persons including businessmen received extortion notes. Most of the extortion notes were sent by post and not delivered by anyone personally as was the case earlier. According to information available with the security agencies, some of the persons, who received such extortion notes, also received phone calls from persons identifying themselves as leaders of the militant outfit and apparently on most occasions, the militant outfit is ready to negotiate the amount demanded. However, no one is very sure whether anyone was paying up and if someone really paid, where the exchange of money took place.

  A few such extortion notes received by businessmen in Guwahati are in possession of and the letters were signed by self styled 'captain' Apurba Baruah, who is now in charge of the central finance unit of the ULFA after the arrest of Finance Secretary Chitraban Hazarika. Sources further said that the ULFA is now controlling the extortion drive through its Central Council Headquarter (CCHQ), which is still operating from Bangladesh and most of the instructions to the cadres are routed through the CCHQ.

• May 20: Ttwo ULFA cadres, identified as Rahul Gogoi and Nabjeet Vaishya, were arrested by the BSF troops from Jorhat. A 9-mm pistol was recovered from their possession besides other items.

  Dismissing reports on the arrest of ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua in Bangladesh, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said the Government has no information about it. "There is no information regarding Barua's arrest." Pillai said. Senior intelligence and Police officials also dismissed the reports as a rumour.

• May 19: A person returning from "a business trip" in China was arrested in Bangladesh, prompting the Indian Government to verify whether he is ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua. Sources said that the person suspected to be Paresh Barua had been lodged in a safe house somewhere close to the Indian border in the east and he was being questioned by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). Officials in India and Bangladesh are moving with extreme caution - almost a fortnight has passed since the arrest - as several similar alerts had turned out to be false alarms earlier. Unconfirmed reports also said that ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, who had been in Bangladesh for over 10 years, was handed over to Indian authorities in New Delhi.

• May 18: Two ULFA linkmen- Ajit Nath alias Pranjit Barua - and Shamsher were arrested by SFs operating in Darrang District. The duo was intercepted near Patharighat in an Army mobile check post. One locally made pistol, four live rounds, two cellular phones and six blank ULFA leaflets were recovered from the possession of the linkmen.

• May 10: Two top ULFA leaders said that the banned outfit would not change its stance on ‘sovereignty’ while opting for talks with the Government, saying ULFA was not "chasing a dream aimlessly."

  The All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) asked the State as well as the Union Governments to initiate peace talks with the NDFB. According to AATS, arrest of Ranjan Daimary would not solve the NDFB problem permanently. The Sangha members, alleging of discrimination against Daimary by the State Government, said that Daimary should be given the same status as Arabinda Rajkhowa or Raju Barua of the ULFA.

• May 9: Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai said the Union Government is aware that the CPI-Maoist had been in touch with some of the other militant outfits in different parts of the country like NSCN-IM and ULFA. In its latest report, the Standing Committee attached to the MHA, however, quoted the Home Secretary as saying, "We don't have any evidence of direct outside support. This, in one sense, is so far a fully home grown and very clever and intelligent movement." About the links between the CPI-Maoist and Northeast-based insurgent groups, Pillai said that the CPI-Maoist had talks with the outfits in an effort to widen their movement. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended that more counter-insurgency and jungle warfare colleges in line of the Vairengte in Mizoram should be opened.

• May 6: Two ULFA militants, Prafulla Cho and Madhav Bora, surrendered before BSF at Salmora BSF camp in Golaghat.

  India has sought custody of detained ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia. The latest request was passed on to the visiting key aide and Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mashiur Rahman. National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon reportedly conveyed New Delhi's desire to have custody of the ULFA leader Anup Chetia. Menon also expressed India's gratitude to Rehman for handing over NDFB 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary to India. The detained ULFA leader has completed his jail term in Bangladesh and currently under 'protective custody'. Dhaka has been maintaining that his application for political asylum is pending.

  ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi said that the decision on the talks process would be taken collectively by its central committee. Gogoi said, "The presence of any particular individual is not important in this case. The decision has to be taken by the outfit's central committee leadership." ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, who is opposed to talks with the Government sans sovereignty, had said that no leader of the outfit could individually take a decision on whether talks should be held or not. He further said that efforts to create a rift among people following Daimary's arrest should be avoided.

• May 6: Sources said that the next target of the banned ULFA to carry subversive activities is Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's home District Jorhat. "A group of six cadres of the outfit has already entered the district from the Nagaland side and are currently taking shelter in the district. The militants of the group are members of the B Company of the 28th battalion," sources added. Security measures have been tightened in the District. Police are on strict vigil at the suspected spots and Police checking have been increased all along the District.

  The United People's Federation of Assam (UPFA) urged upon the Government of India to expedite the peace talks with the NDFB, pro-talk ULFA, DHD, KLNLF and other outfits who are already under ceasefire to solve their problems politically.

• May 5: A10th class student, Santosh Agrahari, was injured when some ULFA militants opened fire at Pabon Agarwala at Moran under Moran Police Station in Dibrugarh District. According to sources, Pabon Agarwala had been issued an extortion note by the ULFA. When the militants came to collect the cash, they had an altercation with Agarwala leading to the firing.

• May 4: The steering committee formed by the April 24 Sanmilita Jatio Abhibartan (United National Convention) said that the ULFA central committee could only decide whether or not the militant outfit would sit with the Government of India for negotiation without its 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua. Moreover, it is also up to the central committee of the militant outfit to take a decision on whether or not the issue of sovereignty would be there on the agenda of the outfit's negotiation with the Union Government.

  Further, All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) has said that the Ranjan Daimary should be treated in the manner the arrested ULFA leaders are being treated.

• May 3: Expressing concern over the activities of the Manipur-based militant outfit UNLF and CPI-Maoist in the State, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the case of the two recently-arrested UNLF leaders would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Tarun Gogoi condemned the ULFA for being 'insincere' about the proposed talks by adamantly insisting on 'sovereignty' as the issue, saying that no dialogue was possible under the circumstances as sovereignty was 'non-negotiable'. Gogoi was also critical of the intellectuals who had been urging the Government to be flexible on the sovereignty issue. Gogoi said that the ULFA was not a revolutionary group as its leaders maintained a lavish lifestyle in foreign countries at the expense of their cadres. He further added that while some camps of the ULFA and other militant groups still existed in Bangladesh, the country was extending full cooperation to India in flushing out the militants.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the Ranjan Daimary was responsible for over 90 deaths during the October 30, 2008 serial blasts in the State. He said, "The arrest of Ranjan Daimary has definitely been a prized catch, as he was the most wanted ultra leader along with ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom] 'c-in-c' Paresh Baruah. We have evidence that Daimary was responsible for over 90 deaths in the October 30 serial blasts."

  The NDFB was also maintaining close ties with different anti-India groups having bases in Bangladesh. According to an assessment by the SFs, at least a hundred trained cadres of the outfit are still in Assam, while, around 50 cadres must be in Bangladesh. Sources further said that the NDFB launched joint operations with the ULFA from time to time, but the outfit also maintained close ties with other groups like NSCN-IM, UNLF, All Tripura Tiger Forces (ATTF) and NLFT etc, as well as with some other anti-India groups in the neighbouring country. Sources revealed that under pressure in Bangladesh, anti-talk faction of the NDFB recently established a camp in Myanmar and is located near a camp of KYKL.

  Sources said that after the arrest of NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary, the Government of India provided information about the whereabouts of several other militant leaders in Bangladesh and waiting for the response. Though the arrest of Ranjan Daimary is viewed as a major diplomatic victory for India, the Government will keep mounting diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh to take action against the militants, particularly those belonging to the ULFA and the NDFB, who are still staying in Bangladesh. Sources added that from the security point of view, the arrest of Ranjan Daimary was even more important than the arrests of the leaders of the ULFA.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi warned that NDFB and ULFA cadres were looking to carry out subversive activities jointly in the State, including the capital city. His comments came hours after the anti-talks group of the NDFB vowed to continue its struggle for the legitimate rights of the Bodo people. An emailed statement from B. Ohnjalu of the NDFB 'publicity cell' to the media on May 2 stated that "the arrest of NDFB chief is unfortunate but the fight against India to liberate the Bodo people will continue." The statement also threatened that the Assam government would "get a better answer in the days to come if it does not hold talks with the NDFB."

• May 1: Bangladesh handed over Ranjan Daimary, the 'president' of the NDFB to India. Ranjan Daimary (50), wanted in numerous cases, was handed over at Dawki along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. Daimary's handing over came exactly five months after ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and two others were arrested and brought to India. He is the fifth militant leader of an armed underground outfit of Assam to be handed over by Bangladesh. Daimary, founder of the NDFB was named as the prime accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the serial blasts of October 30, 2008 that had killed 88 persons and injured 540 persons in Guwahati and four other towns of Assam. Confirming his arrest, official sources in Guwahati said Daimary was handed over by Bangladesh Rifles to the Border Security Force (BSF), which in turn handed him over to the Assam Police. He was later shifted to Guwahati. Sources said Daimary was detained at Jinaighat in Sherpur District of Bangladesh in mid-April.

• April 30: ULFA militant Raja Bora, bodyguard of outfit's 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, was produced before the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in connection with the Bharalumukh blast, Bhangagarh blast and a case relating to the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The court sent him to 14-day judicial remand.

  Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said that Union Government is waiting for a nod from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to start dialogue with the ULFA - with or without Paresh Barua. He said that the discussions are on between the State Government and Union Government. G.K. Pillai said, "We are waiting for a response from the Chief Minister of Assam. We would be initiating the talks with or without Paresh Barua." His response confirmed that the Union Government has endorsed the Chief Minister's view on holding dialogue with ULFA.

  Tarun Gogoi said that talks between the Government and the ULFA were possible without Paresh Baruah's participation, reports Sentinel. "The Centre had held talks with Naga leaders minus A. Z. Phizo. So, talks between the government and the ULFA are possible without Paresh Baruah's participation. To me, Paresh Baruah is not more powerful than Phizo." The Chief Minister, however, said, "We want Paresh Baruah to join the talks but we can't wait for him indefinitely." Gogoi also said his Government was getting signals from some ULFA leaders about their willingness to sit for talks with the Government. He played down the threat to his life by the ULFA. "I simply don't care about ULFA's threats as these are nothing new to me. There has always been a threat perception on my life and still I move around freely," he said.

• April 29: The ULFA has launched an extortion drive and served extortion notices to people in different parts of Assam. Security agencies expressed apprehension that the outfit might indulge in acts of violence to prove its existence so that those served with extortion notices can be forced to pay the demanded amounts. Sources revealed that the ULFA had divided the upper Assam area into three zones for launching extortion drives. The Districts of Jorhat and Golaghat were in one zone, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur Districts and Majuli River Island were included in the second zone and the Districts of Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia were included in the third zone. Sources said that different sections of people including politicians, traders etc received extortion demands from the ULFA in upper Assam areas.

  Sources further said that the '109^th battalion' of the ULFA had been asked to launch extortion drives in Boko, Palasbari and Chaygaon areas of Kamrup District and in Goalpara District. Drishti Rajkhowa, who heads the battalion, is now believed to be in Bangladesh and Gulit Das and Pradeep Basumatary have been entrusted with the responsibility of extortions on behalf of the battalion. Also, Hira Sarania 'commander' of '709^th battalion' is still at large and the battalion served extortion notices in parts of Guwahati city. The battalion also carried out joint operations with the members of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB from time to time to collect funds for the outfit in recent months.

  The MHA has sent a wireless message to the Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Sankar Barua that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his brother Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sushanta Biswa Sarma were on the hit list of the ULFA. The MHA has asked the State Police Chief to intensify the security of the three persons. The threat to the Chief Minister and the Health Minister comes even as State intelligence agencies warned of plans by the ULFA to stage serial bombings in Guwahati, besides carrying out abductions in the State.

  ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua once again stated, "ULFA will sit for talks only if sovereignty is included for negotiations. There is no point for the organization to put forth any further proposal." He said, "Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has violated the rights of the indigenous Assamese by stating that there can be no talks on the issue of sovereignty." Barua asked people to put pressure on the Government to hold a referendum on the issue of sovereignty.

• April 27: The Assam Police detained six persons from Goalpara and Kamrup Districts, including two from Guwahati, for planning to carryout bomb blasts in the Guwahati city. Sources confirmed that a team of '109^th battalion' of the ULFA had carried out a survey of the city and it was planning to carryout blasts in Guwahati. Sources revealed that the blasts were being masterminded by Drishti Rajkhowa, 'commander' of '109th battalion' of the outfit.

  Sources said, "The ULFA team is concentrating somewhere in Goalpara and the explosives, as per our intelligence report, have already been procured." However, sources refused that the subversive activities are being planned to derail the peace initiative taken by a group of distinguished citizens. Sources further claimed, "This appears to be a desperate move on the part of the outfit to make its presence felt and make some quick bucks through extortion."

  Telegraph quoting sources adds that explosives were suspected to have smuggled in from Bangladesh to Goalpara via the Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Police said, "According to information available with us, Drishti Rajkhowa, alias Mohan Rabha, has entrusted self-styled sergeant major Dipak to carry out blasts in the city. Ulfa is trying to hire outsiders like the poor unemployed youths or daily wage-earners to ferry and plant the bomb," adding that Dipak Das has several aliases like Dipak Rai, Arman Ali and Master.

• April 26: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on said, "Let the ULFA first respond to the resolutions adopted by the Citizens' Forum. We have to know what the ULFA thinks about the forum and also if the outfit's leadership acknowledges the initiative taken by it." He further said, "We are ready for talks, but they should shun violence and send a written proposal for peace talks first."

  The dead body of a surrendered ULFA militant, Jibon Bora, was recovered from near the railway tracks in Chungajan in Golaghat District. Police suspects it to be a case of murder.

• April 25: ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah might have returned to Bangladesh recently. Sources pointed out that Baruah always maintained close links with a section of officers of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the intelligence agency of Bangladesh and India still believes that the political leadership of Bangladesh still does not have full control over all the Government agencies. Sources also pointed out that though four 'central committee leaders' of the ULFA were handed over to India, most of the hardcore militants, who are operationally active, have not been handed over. Sources said that the 'chairman' of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB, Ranjan Daimary, and a number of his followers are still in Bangladesh, while several key leaders of the ULFA, including Antu Chowdang and Drishti Rajkhowa are, also staying in Bangladesh.

  The State level convention organized by prominent citizens in Assam called for release of the jailed leaders of the ULFA to enable the outfit to hold its central committee meeting. Sources said that it would be difficult for the Government to do so without going through the judicial process. Sources said that it is unlikely on the part of the Government to grant general amnesty to the ULFA leaders till a settlement is arrived at. However, sources said that if the ULFA leaders in judicial custody apply for bail and the Government does not oppose it, they can come out on bail.

  On the demand of the convention that both the Government and the ULFA should come forward for talks without any pre-condition, sources said that the Government of India (GoI) is yet to change its position regarding talks. The GoI is of the view that talks with any militant group must be held within the framework of the Constitution of India and the militant groups must give up violence to come for talks. The Government has made it clear that sovereignty is not negotiable and the stand is yet to be changed.

• April 24: The NDFB and ULFA formed and nurtured several radical outfits like MULTA to get logistical support, shelter and passage in minority-dominated Districts of lower Assam. Also, the arrest of a MULTA cadre in Dhubri District on April 23, has unravelled involvement of MULTA in drug peddling. Four months ago, two MULTA cadres had been arrested with 400 grams of brown sugar in Meghalaya's Garo Hills District on December 29, 2009.

  Sources said that MULTA that stepped up its drug-peddling activities after intensive counter-insurgency operations against the ULFA and the NDFB, which have been supporting it reduced its strength considerably. Sources mentioned, "This is evident from the fact that many youths of minority community belonging to the NDFB or acting as its linkmen have been arrested from the lower Assam districts in the past few years." The source added, "The ISI is sitting at the helm of affairs and controlling the situation in the Northeast from Bangladesh and the fundamentalist organisations are carrying out their activities under the umbrella of Ulfa and the NDFB without much hue and cry." The report adds that it took a long time for the intelligence agencies to understand that ULFA and the NDFB were using these fundamentalist organisations as their conduit.

  Meanwhile, sources also said that no direct link had been found between the MULTA and any National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) faction. But since MULTA's patrons, ULFA and the NDFB, camped in Bangladesh and had tactical understanding with the NSCN factions for logistical support, it could be involved in arms racket, mentioned sources. The strategic location of Dhubri serves their purpose very well as the District shares an international border with Bangladesh, inter-State boundaries with Meghalaya and West Bengal and is in close proximity to Bhutan. All the narcotics routed to this part of the region come through Bangladesh. The Police and the Army have seized brown sugar five times in the past three years. Sources said though MULTA had lost considerable strength and was lying low at present, it was not totally depleted.

  The Sanmilita Jatiya Abhivartan convened at Guwahati by intellectuals and civil society activists of Assam on April 24, adopted several resolutions appealing to the Government to hold discussion with the ULFA on its various demands, including the core demands.

• April 23: ULFA stated that it might soften its stand on the sovereignty issue, a demand which the group had set as a precondition for talks with the Government, reports PTI. The outfit's 'vice chairman' Pradip Gogoi said, "Sovereignty is a vital demand of the ULFA. The government should show an interest in this demand." He, however, said "Discussion on sovereignty does not mean it has to be granted."

  Gogoi said that the people of Assam are hoping that the Government will create a favourable atmosphere for peace talks and are concerned about the ongoing operations by the Army and Paramilitary Forces. Gogoi hoped that the state-level convention of Committee of Intellectuals, formed to facilitate talks between the Union Government and ULFA, scheduled to be held on April 24 (today), would come out with valuable suggestions to take forward the peace process. He also hoped that the convention would create a favourable atmosphere so that ULFA central committee leaders could meet either outside or inside the jail, where they are currently lodged.

  Amid opposition from the ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, a number of intellectuals and litterateurs of the State are going to hold the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhivartan at ITA Cultural Centre for Performing Arts at Muchkhowa, Guwahati on April 24. The convention, according to the intellectuals, has been convened to pave the way for talks between the ULFA and the Government.

• April 22: The ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy 'commander-in-chief' Raju Baruah and 'foreign secretary' Shashadhar Chouhury were produced in the TADA-designated court, in connection with eight cases pending against them. When asked to offer his views on ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah's rejection of a State-level convention by the peace forum constituted to take forward the peace process, Rajkhowa declined to make any comments. He said, "Personal views would only add to the confusion and lead to the people of Assam getting confused."

  The Union Government has clarified that no formal request for release of the ULFA leaders from jail has been received by Assam Government. In Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament), Union Minister of State for Home Affairs M. Ramachandran said that the Assam Government has informed that no demand for release of detained leaders from jail has been received from the ULFA. He declined to comment on the question whether the Government of Assam was keen on granting parole to at least eight top leaders currently in jail to facilitate talks.

  In another e-mail statement, Paresh Barua once again criticized some intellectuals of the State for having failed to understand the ULFA's ideology.

  The Assam Public Works (APW) criticized the ULFA Paresh Baruah for being a stumbling block to the peace process in Assam. APW President Abhijit Sarma and Secretary-General Bitu Talukdar, in a press statement issued, said that Paresh Baruah had been hindering several peace initiatives in Assam since 1990. "Paresh Baruah is being held captive by foreign forces. He has changed his name and religion and is working for the ISI and DGFI. He has never been interested in a peaceful solution to the ULFA issue," said Sarma and Talukdar.

• April 21: A suspected ULFA cadre, Dinesh Das, was arrested from Narangi area of Guwahati. Some incriminating documents, including demand notes of the outfit, were recovered from his possession.

  The ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua in an e-mail to the newly floated Citizen's Forum's leader Hiren Gohain, over the panel's plan to hold a convention on peace, said "There is no question of talks without the issue of sovereignty on the agenda. Agreeing to hold talks without the sovereignty issue would be like surrendering to the colonial forces," reports Telegraph. Barua's statement questioned Gohain's knowledge about ULFA and his commitment to solving the ULFA issue. "We believe that Gohain is not among those intellectuals who are working at the behest of the colonial forces to divide Ulfa. He should try to go deep into the Ulfa issue before coming up with suggestions," the statement further said. Reacting to Barua's statement, Gohain said, "I was Ulfa's critic earlier, I would rather advise Paresh Barua to read my books and numerous articles on the Ulfa issue".

  The 'deputy commander-in-chief' of the ULFA, Raju Barua, said that it was the central committee of the outfit that was empowered to take a decision in a free and fair atmosphere on holding peace talks with the Government of India, according to Shillong Times. He said that there was no division in the ranks of ULFA and all cadres and leaders of the outfit including those lodged in jail now supported the outfit's core demand for 'restoration of sovereignty' of Assam.

• April 20: Hiren Gohain, President of the Preparatory Committee for All Assam Convention for Revival of Talks between Government and the ULFA, said, "Let Paresh Baruah examine the contents of suggestions given by the State-level convention as a member of the central committee, which alone has the authority to take a final decision on the matter. If Baruah honours the constitution of the ULFA, he should wait until conditions are suitable for a meeting of the central committee in a situation free from constraints before rushing to the press." He stated, "We are not proposing an abject dishonourable surrender to the political and bureaucratic bosses in Delhi unmindful of the legitimate claims and demands of the natives of the State."

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in New Delhi said that the Government will not wait "indefinitely" for elusive ULFA military 'chief' Paresh Baruah to come for talks but expects "some good news" in the next few days, reports Shillong Times. He said, "We will not wait indefinitely for Paresh Baruah to come. We are ready to initiate dialogue with other leaders on all issues, except sovereignty." Gogoi said that Government wanted to involve all leaders of ULFA in the negotiations but everything will depend on the willingness and sincerity of the insurgent leaders.

  Regarding the ULFA's links with the CPI-Maoist in Assam, the Chief Minister said that all extremists groups like Maoists and ULFA are "in the same boat" as all of them believe in armed struggle, which is not acceptable for a democratic country like India. "Naxals, ULFA are in the same boat. Their objective is to achieve their goals through armed revolution. They just want to create problem for the country," he said. The Chief Minister also advised the Maoists to follow the footsteps of the erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), a militant group which after surrendering arms joined the democratic process and is now in power of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), if they really care about the development of poor people.

• April 19: Two ULFA linkmen were arrested by Security Forces (SFs) from village Outala and Chamuapara under Mangaldai Police Station of Darrang District on an unspecified date. The duo was, reportedly, close associates of self-styled 'lieutenant' of the '27^th battalion' of the outfit, Manoj Kama alias Mukul Rabha. Documents pertaining to banned ULFA outfit and some recharge vouchers of cellular phone were recovered from the possession of one of the ULFA linkman Jyotish Deka.

  ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua rejected the peace initiative taken by the newly floated Citizen's Forum stating that the outfit would never compromise on its demand for sovereignty. "We will never compromise on the issue of sovereignty. As such, we fail to understand how the Citizen's Forum will go ahead with the peace talks without our core demand for independence," Barua said in an e-mailed statement to the media. The forum had been floated to help broker peace between ULFA and the Government.

  Barua said, "We know that the persons organizing the convention on April 24 are prominent personalities of Assam, but they are committed to the Constitution of India, which took away the legitimate rights of the people of Assam." Also, the ULFA 'chief' added that the ULFA would sit for talks only if the Government of India agrees to hold talks on the issue of sovereignty of Assam and hoped that the convention would not call upon the outfit to come for discussions by giving up its demand and ideology. He said that the prominent citizens of Assam should put pressure on the Government of India to hold talks on the issue of sovereignty of Assam. They should also call upon the Government of India to arrange for a plebiscite on the issue of sovereignty of Assam.

  Paresh Barua said that 12,000 persons lost their lives during the ULFA's struggle for restoration of the historical rights of the indigenous people of Assam and now the outfit would never compromise on its demand for the interest of holding talks with the Government of India. "We will not respect any call by the convention of prominent citizens if we are asked to give up our demand," he asserted.

• April 18: Former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army's 4 Corps, Lieutenant General (retd) D.B. Shekhatkar warned that though the fundamentalist forces are lying low at this moment, the region is virtually sitting on a sleeping volcano, which may erupt at any time and "one should not be surprised if a demand for separation comes up by the end of the year 2018." He also pointed out that effective steps must be taken to prevent infiltration of foreigners to the region and a close watch must be maintained on the activities of the fundamentalist forces.

  He further pointed out that there have been demands for inclusion of the Northeast in the erstwhile East Pakistan (Bangladesh) since the time of Independence and even today, the demand is raised from time to time. The fundamentalist forces and Islamic militant groups are now lying low but they have their "sleeping cells", which can become active when they feel that the time is ripe for them to strike. The militant groups backed by Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), including the ULFA, are still active and there is no reason for the fundamentalist forces to use their manpower to create disturbance in the region at this moment.

• April 16: ULFA 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Doimary visited Barpeta on an unspecified date, to know the views of the people of Barpeta about the ULFA and the Union Government talks before the Sanmilit Jatiya Abhibartan which will be held on April 24. The duo exchanged their views regarding the issue of ULFA-Government and also took advice from the leading citizens of the town. In their talk they said that at present ULFA is not a problem for the government. But the demands that ULFA raised at present became a great problem for the government. The duo cadres hoped that the noted persons of Assam must help them to make the ULFA cadres free who are in jail. The duo also mentioned that the people opined that there should not be any barrier to discuss about the issue of sovereignty of Assam which have been raised by ULFA since a long period.

• April 14: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Assam Government will have no objection in allowing jailed ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa to visit his ailing 90-year-old mother, especially with people celebrating Assamese New Year or Bohag Bihu. Gogoi said, "I received a written appeal from Rajkhowa's family to allow him to see his old mother during Bihu. We have absolutely no problems in allowing the ULFA chairman to go and meet his mother. But since he is in judicial custody, it depends on the court." The Chief Minister further said that the Government would have no objection in allowing even other jailed leaders to visit their families during Bihu beginning on April 15. "We want peace and on the eve of Bihu I am extending my best wishes and greetings to even Paresh Baruah (the elusive ULFA commander-in-chief). Let all of them realise the futility of an armed struggle and see how we all are celebrating Bihu with our families," added Gogoi.

• April 13: Ajay Rajkonwar, brother of ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, sent a fax message to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi requesting him to allow Arabinda Rajkhowa to go home to meet his ailing mother during Rongali Bihu festival.

• April 12: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted the links between insurgent groups like ULFA and the CPI-Maoist. "There are reports about links between our insurgent outfits and Maoists. There is a probable link. I don't find much of a difference between them if you look at their respective ideologies and styles of functioning. Both start off by exploiting sentiments of the masses in underdeveloped areas and try to solve problems through armed struggle. The whole idea is to destabilise the government," Chief Minister said.

  Assam Chief Minister said that the Government would wait for some more time to have ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah in the proposed peace dialogue, but hinted that the talks could start without him as well, reports Assam Tribune. He further said that the doors for talks with militant outfits were open but that operations against them would continue as long as they indulged in violence.

  The Assam Government has to spend around INR 7.59 million a month for the 4,006 militant cadres who have been staying in various designated camps in the State. The militant outfits now in ceasefire and whose cadres are in such camps are the UPDS, DHD, BW, NDFB, Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), Birsa Commando Force (BCF), KLNLF and the ULFA.

  One ULFA linkman, Asraf Ali (35), was arrested by the Army from Nampara village in Goalpara District on the same day.

• April 11: A Policeman was killed and another seriously injured in an encounter with the ULFA militants at Kochgaon Tinthengia in Dibrugarh District. The slain Policeman was Sisuram Das of 19 India Reserve Battalion (IRB). No militant was killed in the encounter. Additional Director-General Of Police (special branch) Khagen Sarma said that the Police team launched an operation in the area on the basis of information provided by three arrested ULFA cadres that a group of about five cadres, led by Ratul Bora, was camping in the area. The trio were arrested while trying to extort money from a brick kiln in the area.

  Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Tako Dabi said that there were definite intelligence inputs about ethnic guerrillas of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) from adjoining Myanmar infiltrating into the State's Changlang District in recent weeks. "We have already launched a military operation to drive out the KIA rebels, although we don't have any immediate information of them setting up bases in our state," Dabi said. The Home Minister said the KIA controls large part of northern Myanmar - a region where up to a half-a-dozen Indian separatist groups from the restive Northeast have well entrenched bases under KIA's direct patronage. "We cannot allow the KIA to stay here for long as it could have dangerous ramifications in the long run as Arunachal Pradesh does not have any home grown terror groups, but the State is becoming a hot bed of imported terror groups. We are also trying to find out if the KIA is trying to become close with the NDFB of Assam to help them shift bases to Myanmar and China," the Home Minister further said. The Home Minister added further that two of Assam's main militant groups, NDFB and ULFA, besides NSCN-IM and NSCN-K of Nagalnd, have presence in Arunachal Pradesh.

  A militant, identified as Bhadia Bhumij, managed to escape after a brief encounter with SFs at Kulapathar in Tinsukia District along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on the same day.

  With the Assembly elections in Assam slated for 2011 drawing nearer, State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has been putting pressure on the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the initiation of direct talks with the ULFA, even though top intelligence officials still maintain that time is not ripe for peace talks with the militant outfit. Top intelligence officials are of the opinion that the Government should take the issue of ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah into consideration while taking any decision on peace talks with the outfit.

  Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram also said, "Our efforts are on to bring Paresh Baruah to the table for talks. However, nothing can be said with certainty so long as Paresh Baruah is at large." According to sources, the Assam Government has already asked ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi to prepare a list of their demands that are within the Constitution of India before the initiation of peace talks.

• April 10: Two former ULFA militants, identified as Pikash Rabha and Santu Rabha, who laid down arms in 2000, were arrested by the Goalpara District Police from Salpara for acting as linkmen.

  Myanmar's Ambassador to India U. Kyi Thein at Shillong in Meghalaya said that action against Indian insurgents in its territory will be initiated only after receiving military assistance from India. "We have informed India of our requirements to help us in fighting against the insurgents," the Ambassador said. "India has agreed to provide us our military requirements, but I cannot share with you our requirements," Thein said. He said, "We also shared the same problem (insurgency) like India. This problem will be sorted once India meet our requirements." The report adds that there are at least 15 insurgents' camps operating from Myanmar soil, fighting either for an autonomous or independent homeland in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. The Centre asked the Myanmar to take action against the militant groups, including Manipur-based United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Liberation Army (PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) Assam-based ULFA and Nagaland-based National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) operating from Sagaing division and the Chin State of Myanmar. Thein said that the problem of insurgency across the India-Myanmar border can be sorted out through infrastructure development. "We (India- Myanmar) now plan to develop infrastructure in the border with special emphasis on enhancing connectivity," the Ambassador informed.

• April 9: The Dhubri Zila Praktan ULFA Samannayrakshi Samiti (an organisation of former ULFA cadres) has called a 12-hour Dhubri District bandh (general shutdown) beginning from 5am. Dilip Barman, who was attacked on April 7, is a central committee member of the organisation. The president of the Samiti, Sushil Chandra Roy, said that Barman was attacked by Bodoland Peoples'' Front (BPF) candidate Doneswar Goyari and his armed supporters when he was on his way back home from his uncle's house in Satipara village in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD).

  The Samiti (Dhubri Zila Praktan ULFA Samannayrakshi Samiti) asked Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik to use his office to get ULFA, 'general secretary', Anup Chetia, extradited from Bangladesh. A seven-member group of the Samiti in a memorandum also said the Government and ULFA should start honourable talks at the earliest and Chetia should be part of the dialogue. Chetia is in custody of Bangladesh. The development comes a day after ULFA, 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi, writing in the outfit's mouthpiece, Freedom, said the time had come to seek the opinion of masses, of different organizations and races.

  Two ULFA cadres, Bharat Kataki (20) and Balin Bora (19), were arrested by the Police from Deotala under Narayanpur Police outpost in Lakhimpur District. The Police recovered two cellular phones, five subscriber identity module cards, one khukuri (knife) and a bike from their possession.

• April 7: Suspected ULFA cadres hoisted the outfit's flag in Rajgarh market, while supporters of the outfit tried to hoist the flag in an open field near the Tinsukia deputy commissioner's office. "We chased two boys who were carrying an Ulfa flag and managed to catch one of them, Lakhi Moran, a resident of Pengeri and a student of Tinsukia ITI. His accomplice, Raju Moran, is absconding," a senior Police official in Tinsukia said.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that operations against ULFA would continue because the outfit was still recruiting cadres. "If Ulfa continues to indulge in violence we will keep our operations going. We can't lower our guard," Gogoi said.

  ULFA leader Arabinda Rajkhowa's former personal bodyguard, Dilip Barman, was attacked in Dhubri.

  The ULFA hoisted its organizational flag at Bakaliaghat in Karbi Anlong on account of its Foundation Day. The outfit hoisted flag at No. 2 Udali Lower Primary School premises. The local administration claimed for a long time that the ULFA was inactive or has been neutralized in the hill District Karbi Anglong. But the ULFA's organizational flag hoisting only at a distance of 200 metres from the 5th Rajputna Rifles Camp has shown presence of the militant organization in the District.

• April 6: ULFA celebrated its '31^st raising day' with supporters and suspected cadres unfurling the proscribed outfit's flag in various places across Assam. A flag was hoisted on the Moran College campus under Moranhat Police Station in Sivasagar District on April 6. Police later removed the flag and picked up Gopal Bhujjal, the night chowkidar of the college, for questioning.

  A cadre belonging to the outfit's '28^th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Pinku Bora, was arrested by the Police from Lakhimpur.

• April 5: A ULFA militant, identified as 'captain' Apurba Barua, was shot dead by a combined force of the Police and the Army during an encounter at Rongalgre village in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya near Meghalaya-Assam border. Other militants managed to escape from the encounter site.

  ULF is said to have stepped up activities across some pockets in Upper Assam with a group entering Borhat in Sivasagar District and the Kakopathar-Pengeri areas in Tinsukia District, prompting SFs to sound an alert. The development comes ahead of the outfit's Raising Day on April 7, a day when it has carried out strikes in the past. An MIU source said "The group is equipped with sophisticated weapons like AK-series rifles, hand grenades and a huge quantity of explosives. We are tracking them and hope to get them soon."

  The sources added that the group had come from the Myanmar camps of the outfit and entered Assam through Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh. However, the tardy progress in the peace process affected the confidence of the pro-talks ULFA group and boosted the morale of the anti-talks faction. There is another report of yet another seven-member group entering the Pengeri-Kakopathar-Bordumsa area in Tinsukia District. All these areas had always been a hotbed for the outfit. "We are tracking the movements of this group. An alert had been sounded throughout the district and we are confident that we will be able to prevent this group from carrying out any acts of violence," a senior Police official of the District said. Mrinal Hazarika, a leader of the pro-talks ULFA camp, blamed the State as well as the Union Government for the reported resurgence of ULFA in Upper Assam. He said "Talks are the only possible way out. We will keep on repeating this. Direct talks between the Centre and the outfit are the only solution."

• April 4: An exchange of fire took place between the Army and suspected ULFA militants at Litong Betoni village under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District. The encounter took place when the Army personnel were carrying out a search operation in the village after receiving information of ULFA militants taking shelter at the house of one Bholen Moran. However, no casualty was reported in the incident.

  Sources said that though the cadres of ULFA and anti-talk faction of the NDFB also visit Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh, from time to time, their activities have not caused much concern as yet. "The ULFA and NDFB use the area for tactical retreat whenever pressure is mounted on them in Assam and though there were some reports of the members of the groups indulging in extortions, they have not created much trouble in the area so far. Moreover, the NSCN-IM, which is demanding inclusion of the Districts in the 'Greater Nagalim', has a stake in the area, which the ULFA and NDFB do not have," sources added.

• April 3: Communist Party of India (CPI) National Executive member Promode Gogoi demanded of the State Government to release all the jailed leaders of the ULFA so as to initiate political dialogue with the militant outfit. Gogoi said that from the very beginning, the Assam State Council of the CPI had been demanding that the demands raised by the ULFA should be solved through discussion without any preconditions.

• April 2: One ULFA cadre, identified as Kaushal Kunwar alias Amar Kakoti, was arrested by Security Forces (SFs) from Pithalibam village in Dibrugarh District. His wife Nomi Kunwar alias Runi Tai was also called in the Police Station for further interrogation. Police sources said both the husband-wife duo was staying in Pithalibam village in disguise.

  P. Chidambaram said that violence and militancy in the "Northeast have come down". Chidambaram said, "We simply have to get more groups to talk to us. 2009 was a big success in containing militancy and talks through interlocutors are going on with some major groups, including the NSCN-IM." On talks with the ULFA, he further said: "We are ready to talk to ULFA and others also if they abjure violence and express willingness. However, there are splinter groups which are carrying out extortion and other unlawful activities. We will take firm action against them." He reviewed the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly Tirap and Changlang Districts that were declared disturbed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, with the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other security agencies.

• March 29: One 'commander' of the '27^th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Mridul Kalita alias Samar Jyoti alias Saurabh, was killed in an encounter with the SFs, at Madeligaon village near Dalongghat under Kalaigaon Police Station in Udalguri . As the SFs reached the house of one village farmer Chinta Ram Barua, the militant lobbed three grenades upon the troops, which immediately exploded on the spot, in an attempt to escape. But the retaliation made by the SFs resulted in the killing of the militant on the spot. One 9-mm pistol along with two magazines and 12 rounds of live ammunition, a cash of INR 204000, 95 subscriber identity module cards along with seven cellular phones, several unaddressed extortion notes and some incriminating documents were recovered from the possession of the slain militant.

  Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram would make an aerial survey of the India-Myanmar border along Arunachal Pradesh on April 3, fuelling speculation that a joint operation against Northeast militants based in the neighbouring country is on the cards. He would visit Arunachal Pradesh on April 1 during which he would also visit Tawang, Tirap, Changlang, Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare Districts to take stock of the situation along the China-India and India-Myanmar borders. Cadres of ULFA and NDFB are said to be hiding in the forest camps in Myanmar's Sagaing division where the NSCN-K has its headquarters. Source said Chidambaram would address a high-level security meeting with officials of the Army and other security agencies on April 3 after visiting Tirap and Changlang Districts, which border Myanmar, and have been affected by insurgency in an otherwise peaceful State.

  Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain in the State Legislative Assembly said that among the active militant groups, the ULFA has a strength of 875 cadres, while the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) has 225 cadres, AANLA has 30 cadres, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) has 40 cadres, Hmar People's Convention- Democracy (HPC-D) has 50 cadres, MULTA has 110 cadres and Assam unit of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin has 45 cadres. The Minister further said that the Unified Command structure is active in the State for launching coordinated operations against militants. The Minister informed the House that in the last two years, 535 persons, including 494 civilians and 41 SFs, were killed by militants, while, during the same period, 333 militants were killed by SFs in counter-insurgency operations. He added that two outfits, Bircha Commando Force (BCF) and Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), are in suspension of operation with the State Government and two others- BW and KLNLF laid down arms to join the mainstream.

• March 28: One US carbine, a gun and ammunition were recovered by the BSF from the house of ULFA linkman, M. Lotha at Binapur in Golaghat District.

• March 24: A three-member team of the 'B' company of the '28th battalion' of the ULFA led by Sujit Mohan is reportedly holding talks with the Assam Police on a possible ceasefire agreement. Sources said, "The 'B' company of the ULFA's 28th battalion has come forward for ceasefire with the government. A three-member team of the 'B' company is holding talks with the Special Branch of the Assam Police."

• March 23: The Meghalaya Police launched a counter-insurgency operation to flush out the ULFA militants from the thick forests of East and South Garo Hills Districts, in Meghalaya.

• March 21: Two suspected cadres belonging to the '27^th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Samesh Choudhury and Dipak Bora, were arrested by the SFs for demanding money from a person in Dispur area of Guwahati city.

• March 19: The Meghalaya Governor R. S. Mooshahary expressed concern over mushrooming of militant groups in Garo hills and the activities of Assam-based outfits along the border. The Governor said that recent developments, such as reports on the formation of militant groups in Garo hills, were a cause of concern. Other militant groups active in Garo hills are LAEF, People's Liberation Front of Meghalaya (PLF-M), Achik National Security Defence (ANSD), Atong Liberation Army (ALA), and United Achik National Front (UANF). ULFA and NDFB are also active in Garo hills and border of Ri Bhoi District. The Governor said that the Government was committed to contain militancy at all costs. The Governor added that the security establishment of the State has acted swiftly to break up and contain the activities of the Hynniewtrep Liberation Front (HLF) in Khasi hills, and LAEF in the Garo hills. He said the activities of the local militant organisations like the HNLC and ANVC have been substantially controlled.

• March 17: General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 4 Corps Lieutenant General Gyan Bhusan at Tezpur said the outlawed ULFA in Assam is a spent force and has lost its sting following sustained counter-insurgency operations and people's apathy towards the insurgent group now. "The ULFA today has become weak with a large number of their top leaders either eliminated or captured. The ULFA is in total disarray," said Gyan Bhusan. He further said, "The ULFA is not in a real position to even regroup now. In the last few important occasions like the Republic Day and the Bihu (Assamese harvest festival in January) they simply could not do anything as they are on the run."

• March 16: Saurav Gogoi, surrendered ULFA leader, was arrested by the Police following an instruction from the Union Government on the charge of threatening Brahmaputra Crackers & Polymers Limited (BCPL) officials. He was, however, released on bail later on.

  The outlawed outfit ULFA hoisted a flag of the outfit in the District headquarter town of Darrang at Mangaldai. The cadres of the outfit on the occasion of the ‘Military Day’ of the outfit unfurled their flag near the Swahid Bedi at Mangaldai College. However on receipt of the information Darrang Additional Superintendent of Police Sushanta Biswa Sarma rushed to the spot and seized it.

  Amid speculation over peace talks with the ULFA, the outfit is busy reorganising, in a bid to emerge as a force to reckon with ahead of the Assembly elections, slated for early next year (2011). The SFs have received "disturbing" inputs about ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua re-allocating specific tasks and responsibilities among his top rung leaders. The outfit has finalised its blueprint for regrouping at a meeting held at its central command headquarters, known as Rupohi Ashroy Shibir, at Bakapura in Sherpur District of Bangladesh recently, sources added. According to the Police, cadres will function under the direct supervision and command of Barua and self-styled ‘major’ Jibon Moran. "Although Ulfa has weakened, we can’t afford to lower our guard as no one knows how long this lull will last. Moreover, they may try to carry out strikes ahead of the Assembly polls in order to create pressure on political parties and their candidates," the source said.

  More than 10,000 militants surrendered before the Government in Assam since 1998. As per the list submitted by the Assam Government in the State Assembly, the ULFA topped the list of surrendered militants as during the period from 1998 to March 5, 2010, more than 4260 militants belonging to the outfit have laid down arms. The list included 2711 militants of the BLT, which was disbanded following the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement between the Government and the outfit in 2003. The list included 514 KLNLF and 416 BW militants. These outfits surrendered weapons to come for talks with the Government for political solution of their problems.

  The Union Government has ruled out the possibility of the ULFA maintaining permanent camps in Arunachal Pradesh. "There is no report of any permanent camp of the ULFA in Arunachal Pradesh, although there are reports of some activities of ULFA in the State," said Union Minister of State for Home Affairs M. Ramachandran in Rajya Sabha (Upper House). In 2009, Assam recorded 424 incidents, marking an increase over 2008, when 387 incidents took place. However, killing of civilians had declined last year with 152 deaths, while in 2008, 245 civilians fell to bullets of insurgents, he added. Manipur continued to lead the table, with the State recording 659 incidents last year, which was marginally less than the previous year, when 740 incidents were recorded.

• March 15: Assam Tribune quoting security sources reports that the interrogation of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leaders arrested in recent past indicated the game plan of the groups to extend cooperation to militant groups in the Nortesat. The main aim of the Maoists is to divert the attention of the Government and SFs. The Maoists have already tried to establish links with the ULFA as such a move would be beneficial for both sides.

• March 8: A ULFA linkman, identified as Dipak Bhumij of Tiphuk tea estate, was arrested by the SFs at Sivasagar. A 9-mm pistol was recovered from his possession.

  The Assam Government assured the Assembly that all efforts were on to trace the ‘commander-in-chief’ of BW, Niranjan Hojai, who had gone missing from a designated camp about two months ago. According to other sources, Hojai could remain in hiding till the political process with the BW begins and he manages to get amnesty. "In that case, he doesn’t have to go to jail although the process of getting amnesty could be time consuming. Otherwise, he lands in jail as soon as he surfaces," a source said, adding the court could soon declare him a "proclaimed offender". Assam Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain said that action would be taken against the cadres of the militant groups who had fled their designated camps. So far, 15 BW militants, seven DHD militants, 40 NDFB militants and five ULFA cadres have fled their designated camps.

• March 7: The Union Government may not be willing to allow ULFA ‘commander in chief’ Paresh Baruah to "hold talks to hostage" for an indefinite period if the other leaders of the outfit express their desire to solve the problems through discussions, highly placed official sources said.

  Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Hagrama Mahilary held talks with ULFA ‘publicity secretary’ Mithinga Daimari at the latter’s residence at Nizzuluki near Barama of Baksa District in Assam.

  ‘Chairman’ of the ULFA’s women wing Kaberi Kachari, who is also the wife of the ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, also held dialogue with Mithinga Daimari at Nizzuluki. Kaberi met Mithinga along with Runumi Chetia, wife of ULFA’s ‘foreign secretary’ Sasha Chaudhury.

• March 5: A 45-year-old businessman, Nepal Halder, who was abducted on February 21 and held hostage in forests — possibly in Assam — returned to Malda District of West Bengal. A day after his abduction from Old Malda on February 21, his wife Gangarani had received a call demanding INR ten million for his release. But the family members refused to say if they had paid the ransom to secure the release. Police suspect that he had been abducted by KLO or ULFA militants and a financial deal had been struck for his release.

• March 4: Founder ‘vice-chairman’ of ULFA, Pradip Gogoi, was released from jail after 18 years and he immediately called for initiation of the peace process to end insurgency in Assam. The court of the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate freed Gogoi after the ULFA leader furnished INR 1.2 million in bail bonds as sureties in nine cases. Gogoi urged the Government to release other top jailed leaders, including ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain and ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah to expedite the peace process.

  The Centre clarified that it had not received any formal request for peace dialogues so far at the organizational level from the ULFA. The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs said that the Government of India has always shown its willingness to enter into dialogue with any group, which is willing to abjure the path of violence and place its demand within the framework of the Constitution of India. Sources added that at least one round of meeting between top officials and the ULFA leaders were held in the jail premises. The ULFA leaders were advised to draft its charter of demands.

• March 3: Two ULFA cadres, identified as Prahlad Malakar and Akon Das, were arrested by the Police at Barpara in Bongaigaon District.

• March 2: The ‘commander-in-chief’ of ULFA, Paresh Baruah, has started reorganising the outfit. Security sources said that at least 30 to 40 members of the outfit are still in Bangladesh. The ‘central committee headquarters’ of the ULFA is still located in the Bakapura area in Sherpur District of Bangladesh. After the arrests of the top leaders of the outfit, the ‘commander-in-chief’ is now the most powerful man in the outfit and Jiban Moran is the ‘second in command’. Sources added that ULFA has made three ranks among the remaining senior members. Most of the members of these three groups are still in Bangladesh. Sources further said that all is not well in the ‘28th battalion’ headquarter of the ULFA in Myanmar and the top leaders have ‘suspended’ a senior member Sujit Mohan. Though Bijoy Das alias Bijoy Chinese is now heading the ‘28th battalion’, still considered the strongest wing of the outfit, personality clashes among the senior members have created problems.

  In the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, the Governor of Assam, J. B. Patnaik said that the Government is ready for talks with the militants within the framework of the Constitution of India. In his speech, the Governor said that there has been perceptible improvement of the law and order situation mainly because of constant pressure by the SFs. A number of top United Liberation Front of Asom ULFA leaders were arrested in last few months, while, two important militant groups - KLNLF and Black Widow surrendered arms. "While we will continue to deal with any act of violence firmly, I would like to say that the doors are open for negotiation within the framework of the Constitution of India," the Governor added.

• February 25: A ULFA cadre was shot dead and another cadre arrested when the SFs neutralised a hideout at Chachinat village of East Garo Hills District in Meghalaya. The slain cadre was identified as self-styled 'sergeant' Bidyut Kalita of the '109^th battalion' of the ULFA. Two AK-81 assault rifles, 129 live rounds of ammunition, one Dragonov sniper rifle with 76 bullets, one kilogram of RDX explosives and a wireless set, one voltmeter and extortion notes were recovered from the hideout. The '109^th battalion' is entrusted with mainly logistical work, like guiding ULFA militants to and from Bangladesh through Garo Hills, which borders the neighbouring country and Assam. The Police said the villages along the border areas of East Garo Hills have become a safe hideout for ULFA militants. The anti-talks faction of NDFB also uses the tract.

  Modalities for ULFA talks may figure at the meeting slated to be held between Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi.

  After meeting with Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Delhi reiterated the outfit's need to drop the issue of sovereignty and abjure violence before any parley. They discussed ULFA's demand for direct talks with the Centre. However, a source said both agreed that the talks, as and when they are held, should also involve the State Government. The meeting also dwelt upon the efforts being made to bring all the ULFA leaders, including Barua to the talks table, but was unanimous on the view that the Government could not keep waiting. After his discussion with Chidambaram, Gogoi said, "The government is ready for talks with the ULFA but there will be no discussion on sovereignty. There is also no plan to suspend operations against the group." On ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua, Gogoi said, "We will also try to bring Paresh Barua to the negotiation table. But if he doesn't come, we will go ahead with the peace process." Gogoi said the indication from the ULFA was positive and the Government was hopeful of initiating the peace process soon. "But we don't specify any time-frame," he added.

  After six years in prison, the ULFA 'publicity secretary', Mithinga Daimary (43), was released. After his release from the Guwahati Central Jail, he went to his house at Barama in Nalbari District. Daimary said, "I will meet the jailed ULFA leaders within a day or two on peace talks. It's not possible to take any decision inside the jail, and as such the Government should ensure the unconditional release of the jailed ULFA leaders." He appealed to 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua to agree for talks on. However, ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi said peace talks would depend much on the Government's stand. "We can't take any decision till our general secretary Anup Chetia comes from Bangladesh," he added.

• February 23: The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, court released two top ULFA leaders, 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary on bail, according to Sentinel. IANS quoted the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi saying, "We also hope talks will begin and are confident that the jailed ULFA leaders will respond. We would hold talks with them with dignity and honour."

• February 21: The Assam Government transferred ULFA's political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain alias Mama to the Guwahati Central Jail from Tezpur in an attempt to allow all the top jailed leaders of the outfit to meet inside the prison to chart out a road map for peace talks.

• February 19: An unidentified ULFA cadre was shot dead by the Army at Lakhopur village in the Helecha-Lakhopur area in Nalbari District.

  The designated TADA court granted bail to ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi in three cases registered against him. His counsel said that the bail was granted on conditions that till the disposal of the cases he would not travel abroad, deposit his passport, if any, in the court and not leave Assam, area under the jurisdiction of the court, without prior permission from the court or the officer-in-charge of the Police Station of the area where he is a permanent resident.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati said: "We haven't got any indication from the ULFA for peace talks as yet, and without any indication from the outfit we can't move ahead. The outfit is adamant on its stand that talks can't be held in handcuffs and from jail. We know this difficulty, but can't do anything before the initiation of peace talks," reports Sentinel. On ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, he said, "We also want that he should take part in the peace process, but we can't wait for him for long. Our efforts to persuade him for peace talks or arresting him are on."

• February 17: A person, Ajay Rajkhowa, was arrested by the Police from Nazira of Sibsagar District for demanding money from a businessman in the name of ULFA.

• February 16: A designated Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) court deferred its decision on bail applications of ULFA ‘vice-chairman’ Pradip Gogoi and ‘publicity secretary’ Mithinga Daimary by a few days. Meanwhile, the Assam Government stated that it has no objection if the two jailed ULFA leaders were granted bail by the court, adds Telegraph. The Government made the submission before the designated court during the hearing of the bail plea. A source said that all the jailed ULFA leaders were likely to be released in phases as part of the groundwork for starting a dialogue.

• February 15: The Assam Government asked the Centre to equate ULFA with the NSCN when it comes to setting pre-conditions for cease-fire and subsequent talks.

• February 14: A suspected militant belonging to '709 battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Kamal Boro, was arrested by the Police from Adamgiri Hill at Maligaon in the Guwahati city.

• February 13: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati said that ULFA's self-styled 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah is trying to regroup the cadre to derail the peace process initiated in Assam. "Paresh Baruah, with a handful of his supporters, is trying to regroup the residual cadre for a showdown in the coming days apparently to derail the peace process which seems to be in the offing with the arrest of many top leaders," Gogoi said. The Chief Minister further said that the activities of NSCN-IM were on the rise in the border Districts of Assam including North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar and Tinsukia.

  Another disturbing factor, he added, was attempt by leftists' elements to influence adivasi and other tribal youths in the State. Meanwhile, Assam Tribune quoting sources reports that Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishan met ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah on an unspecified date after the arrest of ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa. Security sources said that Myanmar could be the venue. The meeting between the two was confirmed when Kishan himself admitted the fact in an interview.

  The 'chairman' of ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa said that his outfit was not for peace talks but was keen to resolve long-drawn contentious political issues through negotiations. When asked about ULFA's demand for sovereignty, he said, "I don't want to say anything more as things may get complicated. We don't want to complicate the situation."

• February 12: A day after the KLNLF gave up its arms, the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asked the ULFA, NDFB and other militant groups to lay down their arms to build a peaceful Assam founded on the ideals propagated by Sankardev, in Titabor of Jorhat District. "The ULFA, NDFB and other terrorist groups of Assam should follow Sankardev’s ideology and humanism to build a peaceful Assam. They should follow the ideals of the great Assamese prophet and lay down their arms in the greater interest of a peace in the State," said Gogoi.

  The pro-talks ULFA described the Government’s decision to the arms surrender term for talks as a step in the right direction, which might even prompt the outfit to consider coming forward for talks. Mrinal Hazarika, a leader of the pro-talks group, said, "Ulfa is not like the DHD or the KLNLF. You cannot impose conditions on them." Union home secretary G.K. Pillai on February 11 had said that the Centre had never asked the NDFB or ULFA to lay down arms but only to abjure violence if they wanted talks.

• February 10: Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq Ahmed Karim said in Shillong that Anup Chetia, ‘general secretary’ of the ULFA, under detention in Bangladesh, after serving a jail term, would be handed over to India soon. He said "It’s happening. You will know when you get him." He further claimed that there were no camps of Northeast militants in Bangladesh at present, added Telegraph. "There are no militant camps that I know of. Action has been taken very seriously against the insurgents who had set up camps", Karim added further.

• February 9: Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said, "We are trying to apprehend Paresh Baruah who is in the Kachin region bordering China. We are putting pressure on Myanmar for this. Paresh Baruah is trying to establish links with China for shelter and arms." He said that Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will decide on whether talks with the ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom] should be held even without Paresh Baruah's participation. He further said that the Centre will discuss Paresh Baruah's links with the NSCN-IM during the meeting with the Naga outfit in April. About ULFA leader Anup Chetia, now in Bangladesh, he said, "We are hopeful that Chetia would come back to Assam soon," he further added.

  The main opposition party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), denied reports that its key official and party chief's son Tarique Rahman had met Indian fugitive militant Paresh Barua, according to Sentinel. Opposition chief whip in Parliament Zainal Abedin Farroque said that the reports were "a concocted story" based on a confession made by Mohammed Hafizur Rahman, a key witness in the Chittagong arms haul case.

• February 7: A ULFA militant, identified as Biswajeet Rabha, was arrested by the SFs from Majapara village in Goalpara District.

  The arrested prime accused in the Bangladesh's biggest ever arms haul case has claimed that former Bangladesh Premier Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman was involved in an abortive smuggling of weapons, believed to be meant for the ULFA militants. The State-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency quoted a senior Police official as saying, "Hafizur Rahman (the prime accused) has told the magistrate that he had met Tarique Rahman at Hawa Bhaban along with ULFA leader Paresh Barua on April 1, 2004." Investigation Officer Mohammad Moniruzzaman said the latest statement of Hafiz seemed to be a "major development" in the investigation process since a reinvestigation into the scam was ordered two years ago.

  The Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called for strict vigilance along the India-Myanmar border following reports of ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah seeking to regroup the remaining ULFA cadres in a bid to derail the peace process. He said, "Hence, the need of the hour is to increase vigilance along the Indo-Myanmar border by advancing the BOPs manned by Assam Rifles closer to the border." He further said, "The Myanmar-based NSCN-K has been offering all forms of assistance and logistical support to the ULFA, ever since it was formed, which must be curtailed at this crucial juncture though the good office of the central government." Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram expressed satisfaction over the comparative downward trend of level of violence in the Northeast barring, of course, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Prime Minister Singh said that in the Northeast, the number of incidents has gone down in 2009 as compared to the preceding year.

  The Meghalaya Chief Minister, D.D. Lapang asked the Centre to go for a tripartite political and development accord with the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) to bring the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion, reports Shillong Times. He also stated that insurgent outfits like ULFA, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), NDFB and UPDS are not only supporting groups like Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF), but also providing them arms, ammunition and training. He said that insurgent outfits both from the Northeast and adjoining Bangladesh were also using the peaceful State of Meghalaya both as temporary sanctuary and corridor. Lapang further claimed that both ANVC and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) have been largely neutralised with a sustained Police operation. But passive militancy is still a cause for concern, he further added.

• February 6: A ULFA militant was shot dead in an encounter at Garobasti in Goalpara District. Two Chinese grenades and a pistol were recovered from the possession of the slain militant.

• February 5: A suspected ULFA militant was shot dead by SFs at Chakrashila reserve forest near Choaikhola in Kokrajhar District.

  The Centre convened a meeting in Delhi to review the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Assam, with focus on efforts to draw ULFA to the negotiating table. A source said this would be the first meeting involving high-profile officials since the arrest of several ULFA leaders, including 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa.

  Security agencies have drawn up a list of 22 ULFA and NDFB militants whose arrest or elimination would deliver a terminal blow to the network of operatives of both the outfits within Assam. Source said, "All of them are currently in Assam and we have taken all possible steps to ensure that they cannot leave the state." Both the militant outfits are operating in tandem in several Districts of Assam.

  A meeting of the top Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Intelligence Bureau and Assam Police officials held in New Delhi decided to continue counter-insurgency operations against ULFA in Assam till the outfit agreed to talks. Halting anti-ULFA operations was ruled out during the meeting since officials feared that such a move would offer the outfit an opportunity to regroup, as had happened a couple of years ago.

  The Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, endorsing the stand of the Centre on the peace process, emphasised the need for a written communication from the jailed leaders. "We need a letter from the ULFA leaders to start the peace process," he said. "Without some kind of written commitment from the ULFA leaders it will be difficult on our part to start the process. What happens tomorrow if they back out," Gogoi added further.

• February 3: An ULFA militant, Diganta Sonowal, was arrested by Teok Police from Kaliapani in Jorhat District. 13 bullets of AK-47 rifle were recovered from his possession.

  ULFA 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary denied the outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah's statement that 'some broker intellectuals' of the State have been putting mental pressure on the jailed ULFA leaders on peace talks with the Government.

  Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq Ahmed Karim hinted at handing over jailed ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, but wanted Indian Government to reciprocate by deporting some of its wanted terrorists allegedly hiding in India. He said, "I cannot comment on whether Anup Chetia would be handed over. But let me say, if you have got back some of the terrorists (meaning the recent handing over of ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and three more top leaders and their family members to India), I see no reason why you cannot get others also."

• February 2: Two suspected ULFA cadres, identified as central Assam 'area commander' Bosa Singh alias Ranojjal Kakoty and his bodyguard Ankur Bonia alias Bishnuram Deka shot dead by troops of 65 Field Regiment of Red Horns Division during an encounter at Dakkhin Bhokelikanda under Kalaigaon Police Station in Udalguri District. A six year old boy, Lakhya Jyoti Deka, was killed in crossfire of the encounter. A trooper was also injured in the encounter. . An AK-56 rifle, 60 rounds of live ammunition, two pistols, four Chinese grenades, a satellite phone, six cellular phones and incriminating documents were recovered from their possession.

  The hardcore militant belonging to '709th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Raju Deka alias Mustafa Mohammad (30) of Mangaldoi, was arrested by SFs personnel from the Talap area in Tinsukia District. Around three kilograms of explosives were recovered from his possession. SFs claimed to have thwarted the outfit's designs to create fresh terror with the arrest of the militant. Military intelligence sources said that another militant, Hemanta Rajbongshi was leading a 12-member group from '709th battalion' and was looking for possible targets in Upper Assam.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Assam Government is ready for peace talks with the ULFA, but the outfit has to give to its written assurance that is ready for peace talks. Gogoi said, "If the ULFA just writes - we are ready for peace talks with the government - the government gets the basis to start the peace process. We will consider other demands of ULFA leaders like 'no talks with handcuffs in hands, dignity' etc."

  The ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa said they could not talk with the Government while in custody. He said, "We cannot propose to hold talks with the government when we have handcuffs on." ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua on the other hand warned 'intellectuals' working at the behest of the Government against the outfit of dire consequences. In an e-mailed statement, he once again came down harshly on people he described as 'local dalals and India-loving intellectuals' who were playing a devious game to derail the outfit's freedom movement. He said that these people were trying to put pressure on the jailed ULFA leaders to sit for talks by citing 'false aspirations of the people'. He added, "However, we are sure that our jailed leaders will not forget the sacrifices made by thousands of youths for the sake of the freedom movement."

• February 1: The ULFA started moving some of their camps in Myanmar deep into the dense forest areas, apprehending a crackdown. This revelation came following February 1 surrender of a ULFA militant Akash Bora before the Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) at Shillong in Meghalaya. Security sources said that from the revelations made by Akash, it was clear that the ULFA is still recruiting new boys and new recruits in small batches are still sent to the camps in Myanmar for training. The ULFA has four major camps in Myanmar where around 150 to 200 cadres are staying. Sources quoting Akash said that life is tough for the militants in Myanmar because of the terrain, and the recent arrest of ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and other senior leaders frustrated and demoralised the cadres. Sources further added that the camps of the ULFA in Myanmar are run mainly by ULFA 'central committee member' Jiban Moran and hardcore militant Bijoy Chinese. Akash revealed that some senior ULFA cadres are maintaining links with some Army officials of Myanmar.

  One militant belonging to '28th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as 'sergeant' Ranjit alias Akash Bora, surrendered before the Border Security Force (BSF) at Shillong in Meghalaya. He deposited one AK-56 rifle and its two magazines besides, 140 bullets. He claimed that ULFA cadres were getting arms training in the four camps in Myanmar. He said, ''The morale of the ULFA cadres in the Myanmar camp has not been affected, knowing Paresh Baruah is still around and supporting the cause of the outfit.''

  The Centre is ready for a dialogue with the pro-talks groups of both ULFA and the NDFB even without their top leaders Paresh Barua and Ranjan Daimary. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, "Our offer to talk to ULFA remains. But we have not yet got an offer to talk from those who have been apprehended. Paresh Barua is not with us. We do not think he is in India. Just because Paresh Barua is out of the country it does not mean that talks can be avoided indefinitely." Chidambaram, however, said that the Centre was also willing to talk to the NDFB without its 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary.

  The ULFA said that it would discuss the offer made by Home Minister P. Chidambaram for peace talks with the jailed rebel leadership. Jailed ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradeep Gogoi said, "We shall have to discuss the matter and I, alone, cannot make any comment on the Home Minister's offer. There has to be a conducive climate for talks and also a lot would depend on the government's sincerity."

• January 29: ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa has said that a decision on a dialogue with the Government would be taken soon, with leaders of the outfit in prison holding marathon discussions on the issue. Mrinal Hazarika, 'commander' of 28th battalion' of the outfit said, "Both sides should not impose any precondition as it may create hurdles in holding dialogue. The agenda for the talks can be finalised at the negotiating table." He also appealed to the Government to release the jailed central ULFA leaders to facilitate early talks. "We want Paresh Barua also to join the peace process but one can't wait for him endlessly. Dialogue must start even if Barua refuses to be a part of the peace process," he added. "Greater autonomy for Assam will solve the problems. It will function like a federating unit where all indigenous groups will have political roles to play," he further added.

• January 27: Two militants belonging to ‘28th battalion’ of the ULFA, identified as David Doley alias Ganesh Kumbang of Dhemaji District and Biraj Sonowal alias Ajit Sonowal of Dhakuakhana were arrested by the SFs at Dhodang Chapari area under Pulibar Police Station of Jorhat District.

• January 25: One militant belonging to the '109^th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Donjison Rabha, was arrested by the SFs in Krishnai area of Goalpara District. Three IED, two grenades and 20 AK-series ammunition were recovered from the possession of the militant.

  The ULFA in its changed strategy has moved men from '109th and 709th battalions' to Upper Assam to carry out subversive activities around Republic Day. Sources said that a 12-member unit drawn from both the 'battalions' led by bomb expert Hemanta Rajbongshi from Nalbari had entered Upper Assam in early part of January 2010 and had been carrying out surveys to figure out possible targets.

  A ULFA militant, identified as Prithvi Raj Rabha, was arrested by SFs during a search operation in Goalpara District. He was the most wanted bomber of the outfit.

• January 24: Two ULFA militants, identified as Hiteswar Kachari and Maheswar Rabha, were arrested by SFs from Goalpara District.

• January 23: The Police recovered an IED from Lalmati area under Basistha Police Station in Guwahati City. Police, however, failed to arrest the ULFA cadre, identified as Lakhi Das alias Jishu belonging to the '109th battalion' of the outfit. "We have received information about the movement of a few suspected persons in the city, which is why we have put our team on alert to avert any untoward incident," a senior Police official stated.

• January 22: One militant belonging to the '28^th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Dipak Saikia (33) alias Bhai, was arrested by the Police from Elengmora area under Pulibor Police Station in Jorhat District. Three kilograms of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosive was recovered by the Police from the Major Sapori area in Majuli following his confession.

• January 21: Ruling junta of Myanmar assured that it plans to launch co-ordinated operations with India to flush out Northeast militants from its territories and has promised to help track down elusive ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah.

• January 19: One ULFA militant, identified as Santosh Rabha (22), was arrested by the Assam Police at Japorigog area in Kamrup District. One Austrian grenade and a bomb were recovered from his possession. He hails from Nalanga Pahartoli in Goalpara District. However, the Police have collected information about a four to five-member group of ULFA cadres belonging to '109 battalion' of the outfit entering Guwahati with explosives to carry out strikes before January 26. Sources said, "He [Santosh] was operating under directions from self-styled sergeant major of 109 battalion, Dipak Das alias Dipak Rai, and commander Pradip Basumatary. During interrogation, Rabha said there were three more cadres of the '109 battalion' holed up in the city." Sources also added that their biggest worry was there are two more bombs in the city, which are yet to be found. This arrest assumes significance in the light of ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua's threats of attacks ahead of Republic Day.

  ULFA 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary filed petitions in the special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) Court seeking bail. Legal experts said, "The court can consider the bail plea of the ULFA duo if the State Government is convinced that they will not jump parole and not destroy evidence of cases against them."

  The ULFA stated that autonomy would divide the State. In its mouthpiece Freedom, the outfit criticised the State Government for its alleged failure to punish the "secret killers". The ULFA mouthpiece also said that the outfit would continue to attack the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Army.

• January 18: A surrendered ULFA militant, Kamal Nath, stated that the Congress party was behind the secret killings during the Prafulla Kumar Mahanta regime.

  January 18: The ULFA stated that its jailed leaders would not jump parole, if freed from prison to facilitate peace talks with the Government. "Let me assure the government and the people of Assam that if released on parole we shall never betray the trust... we shall not flee," said jailed ULFA leader Pradeep Gogoi. He responded following reports that the Assam Government was contemplating granting parole to at least eight top jailed ULFA leaders to facilitate peace talks, but the Centre is apprehensive that the militant leaders might jump parole and go underground. He further added, "Let the people of Assam and the government first take us into confidence... we are not going to break that trust."

• January 17: Dead body of a businessman, identified as Prabhu Choudhury, was recovered from Mohgaon village in Pengeri Police Station of Tinsukia District. He was reportedly abducted by suspected ULFA militants with the help of a surrendered militant, Dilon Duara, from Kakopathar on October 28, 2009.

• January 16: The Assam Police arrested a ULFA militant, identified as Pradip Kalita, from Woodland Hospital in Shillong. Pradip Kalita was suspected to be a member of the '27th battalion' of the ULFA.

• January 15: The Army arrested four suspected ULFA militants from Surya Pahar under Naranarayan River Police Station of Goalpara District. A pistol, a revolver and two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

  Telegraph reports that Tinsukia District Police registered at least six cases of abduction and extortion against a group formed by surrendered ULFA militants and a gang of insurgents who managed to escape from the outfit's designated camps. A Police Official said these cadres, armed with sophisticated weapons, had teamed up with a few surrendered militants and was operating in Upper Assam, especially in Tinsukia. At least five ULFA cadres, who managed to escape from the designated camps in Upper Assam, are part of this new group.

  Telegraph quoting SF sources reports that China's own political exigency in Myanmar was the factor responsible for ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua finding a safe haven along the China-Myanmar border. Sources said Barua had been traced to Ruili in Yunan province of China bordering Myanmar. "Most of the arms deals are struck at Ruili and from there the Chinese arms are brought to Bamo in Myanmar, from where they are routed to different places mostly through the Irrawaddy and its tributaries. ULFA and other militant outfits of the northeast also bring their arms and ammunition through this route," sources said. "Since the Myanmar junta and these rebel groups are in ceasefire, the Indian insurgent outfits like National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), ULFA, and Meitei groups of Manipur have found safe haven in the areas under control of the Kachin and Wa rebels [Myanmar]," added sources. Sources further mentioned that after the Bangladesh Government had stepped up action against the ULFA, Barua shifted base to the China Sino-Myanmar border and also set up camp in rebel-administered areas in Myanmar's Kachin.

• January 13: One militant belonging to ceasefire-group of the ULFA, identified as Dilon Dowerah, and one Army trooper, Havaldar Dayal Singh, were killed in an encounter at Talpathar village under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District. The Army, however, said that another member of the gang might be injured in the encounter. Superintendent of Police of Tinsukia District Diganta Bora said that ULFA cadre Dilon, who hailed from Mutapung in Tinsukia, had formally laid down weapons on December 28, 2007. After two ULFA cadres, Akon Moran alias Ajit Moran, and Biplob Baruah alias Pinku Phukon, managed to escape from the Kakopathar-based designated camp belonging to ceasefire-group of the outfit on July 23, 2009, the trio teamed up to form a gang which extorted and abducted in the name of ULFA. AK-56 rifles, some live ammunition, a magazine, a cellular phone, some incriminating documents including ULFA extortion notes, were recovered from the incident site.

• January 12: Assam Tribune quoting security sources reports that the links between the ULFA and Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is a well established fact and the ULFA is still receiving help from ISI. Sources added that the militant groups, including the ULFA, are still receiving explosives, including RDX, from the ISI. The report adds that ULFA still has a good quantity of ISI introduced Programmable Time Devices (PTDs) and PTD switches.

  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referring to issues related to the talks with the ULFA, said that the Government does not intends to humiliate anyone, but wanted to restore peace in Assam. He said, "Though we tried to bring them to the negotiation table in 2006, they (ULFA) backed out. I hope this time good reason prevails. If Assam becomes peaceful, nothing can stop it from making rapid progress as the state has tremendous potential in all spheres. We are also in touch with our neighbors so that insurgents from the North-East do not get shelter in their territories."

• January 10: Two suspected ULFA militants were killed in an encounter with the SFs at Na-Kuchi under Khetri Police Station in the Kamrup (urban) District. One 9 mm pistol, a hand grenade, two magazines and six rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the possession of the slain militants. The suspected ULFA militants were believed to be led by 'self-styled sergeant major' Jayanta Kalita alias Jintu. Kalita, a top 'commander' of the 109th battalion' of the ULFA operating in Western Assam, was reportedly escaped towards the jungles of Meghalaya border.

• January 8: A senior leader of the ULFA, identified as Bhim Kanta Buraguhain alias Mama, was produced in Tezpur court.

  Assam Rifles (AR) Director General Lieutenant-General K. S. Yadava, addressing the 175th anniversary of the AR said, "United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was raised in Assam on the slogan of `Assam for Assamese'. But it's no longer what it was. My personal perception is that 50% of the lower cadre of ULFA is from across the border''. He added that the `hardcore cadre' of ULFA was now down to just about 200 or so.

  Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "Some positive signals are there that they are willing to hold discussions with us. We are expecting something in writing from ULFA."

  Bangladesh Local Government Ashraful Islam said that former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had a secret meeting with jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia during a visit when the then Premier Khaleda Zia belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was in power. He said "Pervez Musharraf [former Pakistan President] came to Dhaka ... When the ULFA leader was detained in the (Dhaka Central) jail, from where he was brought to the Sheraton Hotel".

• January 7: Assam Police described ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua’s threats as nothing but old wine in new bottle while asserting that Security Forces (SFs) were on high alert and prepared for any challenge. Reacting to the threats, Assam Director-General of Police Shankar Barua said "Threats from ULFA are always there and there is nothing new in his statement." He, however, said that SFs were placed on high alert to foil any bid by ULFA to carry out strikes ahead of Republic Day.

  The ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah, who joined Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) as a porter in 1978 and went underground a few months later, was sacked by the Indian Railways. Having conducted an inquiry into Baruah’s absence from work for over 30 years, the NFR issued instructions to strike Baruah’s name off the Railways’ rolls. A senior NFR official said, "An order stating Baruah’s removal from service has been issued on Thursday [January 7]. It has been put up on the notice board at the Tinsukia railway station."

• January 6: The ULFA threatened to attack Security Forces (SFs) and vital installations in Assam ahead of the Republic Day celebration on January 26. "We are going to step up our offensive and target security forces and other vital installations," self-styled ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah said in an e-mailed statement. Titled ‘new guidelines and instructions’, the rebel statement also warned of action against Assam Police personnel and ‘informers’. "We are not going to spare those who act as informers to pass on inputs to the security forces," the ULFA leader said. The rebel statement also threatened action against ‘intellectuals’ who are anti-ULFA. "We shall identify the intellectuals and first warn them and then take action on such people," the statement said.

• January 4: Bangladeshi High Commissioner to India, Tariq A. Karim, in a recent letter to Bangladesh Government, said a possible backlash from ULFA and religious extremists in Bangladesh has made the mission’s compound in New Delhi extremely vulnerable. "These developments have meant that the High Commission and its personnel have become extremely vulnerable as targets for retaliatory attacks in India aimed at humiliating the government of Bangladesh," the letter stated.

• January 1: A ULFA linkman, Sanjay Sarkar, is arrested by the Kokrajhar District Police and Army from North Rangapara village under Fakiragram Police Station. Explosives are recovered from his possession.