Assam Timeline - 2003

Date	Incident
January 1	Report quoting police sources say 93 persons were killed in year 2002 in Kokrajhar district. Fatalities include 64 civilians, five SF personnel, 18 National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists and six United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists.
January 12	Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says Union government should initiate steps to establish contacts for peace talks with NDFB and ULFA.
January 13	Chief Minister Gogoi says Assam would oppose its dismemberment should the Union government decide to concede National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah's (NSCN-IM) demand of Nagalim (Greater Nagaland). Deputy Premier L.K. Advani expresses optimism that peace process with BLT would succeed and difficulties in creating the BTC would shortly be overcome.
January 20	Suspected United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) terrorists trigger bomb blast derailing Howrah-bound Kamrup Express train at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district. No casualties reported.
January 20	Cease-fire with BLT extended till February 21 at the end of tripartite meeting between Assam government, BLT and Union Home Ministry officials in New Delhi. Bhutan’s Ambassador to India, Dago Tshering, assures Assam government that his country would never allow "anti-Assamese and anti-Indian" forces to use its soil for disruptive activities.
January 22	Union government gives assent to Assam’s proposal to deploy Special Services Bureau (SSB) personnel along International Border (IB) with Bhutan.
January 25	Four civilians, including a woman, killed by UPDS terrorists in Diphu, Karbi Anglong.
January 27	Suspected BLT terrorists kill colleague and four members of his family, including two women, at Duligaon in Dhubri district.
February 1	Reports indicate Assam Rifles would replace Army for counter-insurgency operations in Northeast States within four years.
February 3	State Cabinet meeting in Guwahati endorses decision to reserve 30 seats for Bodo community and five for non-Bodos and five more to be left open for contest in the proposed 40-member Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
February 4	Chief Minister Gogoi says in Guwahati that 'sovereignty' cannot be discussed with terrorists and talks must be held within parameters of Indian Constitution.
February 8	Prime Minister Vajpayee expresses confidence that negotiations with BLT would yield a "positive agreement" while speaking at Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security in New Delhi.
February 10	At a tripartite meeting in New Delhi, representatives of Union and State governments sign agreement with Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) delegation approving formation of the BTC in the Bodo dominated areas of the State.
February 18	Three ULFA terrorists are killed in an encounter in Borrangajuli village, Darrang district.
March 8	ULFA terrorists set off an explosion at a five million-litre petrol reservoir at Digboi Refinery, in Tinsukia district causing a loss of approximately Rs 200 million to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), a public sector enterprise. In another attack, a gas pipeline facility is damaged in a blast at Kathalguri, in the same district.
March 9	Reports indicate troops of the Red Horns Division of the Army launch Operation Shamsheer, jointly with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Assam Police and Meghalaya Police to counter terrorists on the Assam-Meghalaya border.
March 16	Six civilians are killed and 55 more injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast set-off by ULFA terrorists under a passenger bus, on National Highway No. 7, Bamunghopha, Goalpara district.
March 24	Three NDFB terrorists killed in an encounter at Mangaldoi, Darrang district.
March 29	Report says Bhutan has asked ULFA, NDFB and West Bengal-based Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) operating from its soil to close their camps by June 30, 2003 and also warns of military action if they fail to do so.
March 31	Hmar People’s Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) terrorists abduct 23 Dimasa tribals from Chekarcham and Meghnathal villages, Sonai police station limits in Cachar district and later kill them. Approximately 450 dwellings torched and some 500 persons rendered homeless.
April 1	Two Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Legislators in a resolution moved in the Legislative Assembly in their private capacity, urge the Union and State Governments to accept ULFA's demand to discuss Assam’s 'sovereignty' as a precondition for talks.
April 3	The 1993 Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) Accord is abolished by the Assam Legislative Assembly.
April 12	Speaking at Pailapool, Kokrajhar district, Union Minister of State for Home ID Swami accuses Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), for fomenting the ongoing ethnic clashes in the North East.
April 13	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill four persons who they abducted earlier from South Dighaldong village, Kokrajhar district, on April 12.
April 14	Four NDFB terrorists killed in an encounter in Dulongjhora village, Dhubri district.
April 20	Woman ULFA cadre, Dwipamani Kalita, suspected to be involved in the major mortar attacks in 2002 in Guwahati surrenders before the Assam Police chief Hare Krishna Deka along with an AK 56 rifle and three rocket-propelled gun shells.
April 26	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill four members of the family of a former colleague, including two children, in at Taijouguri village, Bishmuri police outpost in Kokrajhar district.
April 29	Security forces arrest 15 DHD cadres from Thaba Basti, North Cachar Hills district, on charges of violating cease-fire (in operation since January 1, 2003) ground rules.
April 30	Police in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal, arrest NDFB ‘speaker’, Sunil Brahma alias B. Simong alias B. Benga and a "captain" in the outfit’s hierarchy B. Buthang, from a hotel in the Park Street area and also recover Rupees one million from their possession.
May 6	The Union Cabinet decides to amend, among others, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to incorporate necessary changes required for the passage of the BTC Bill by the Parliament.
May 8	Media reports indicate that Assam Government is planning action against the alleged activities of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) in the Karbi Anglong, North Cachar Hills, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts.
May 11	Reports indicate that the Government has handed over to Bangladesh a list of 155 training camps, with their exact locations, allegedly being run by various terrorist outfits operating in the five North Eastern States and has also sought their removal. Besides, the Government also asks Bangladesh to hand over 85 terrorists, including ULFA leaders Anup Chetia and Babul Sarma.
May 12	Unidentified terrorists kill son of Assam Veterinary and Hill Areas Development Minister G C Langthasa and a Government employee at Haflong in the North Cachar Hills district.
May 15	NDFB ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ B. Olongbar alias Ajay Brahma is arrested from a local hospital in Guwahati while undergoing treatment under a false name.
May 17	Assam Police arrest ULFA ‘Enigma group’ ‘commander’ Lal Singh alias Amar Singh alias Alman Singh from Tura, district head quarters of West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya. His two female associates are also arrested.
May 21	Four NDFB terrorists killed in an encounter near Deosri in Kokrajhar district.
May 23	Reports indicate that the Union Home Ministry has put approximately 824 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the North-East under surveillance for suspected links with various terrorist outfits. These include 323 NGOs in Meghalaya, 197 in Manipur, 151 in Assam, 82 in Nagaland, 69 in Tripura and two in Sikkim.
May 27	ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah escapes unhurt in an attack by four unidentified assailants while he was leaving his transport agency, ‘Challenger’ at Uttara in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. State Government issues notification to dissolve the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC).
May 28	Railway Protection Force (RPF) identifies Tinsukia-Mariani, Lumding-Halflong, Guwahati-Rangiya-Srirampur and the Rangiya-Rangapara sectors as terrorist prone. Bangladesh denies that unidentified gunmen attacked ULFA ‘commander in-chief’ Paresh Baruah on May 27 in Dhaka's Uttara town.
June 6	HPC-D terrorists attack Lodi Basti, a Dimasa populated village, which straddles Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts and kill three tribals, including two women. The terrorists also set ablaze approximately 50 dwellings.
June 8	In a fresh clash between the Dimasa and Hmar communities in Cachar district, two persons are killed and 70 houses are set ablaze at Kalinagar under Lakhipur police station limits. Bodies of three Dimasas missing since June 6 attack by HPC-D terrorists at Lodi Basti in Cachar district recovered.
June 9	10 HPC-D terrorists are arrested from the Bitheipunji area in Cachar district in connection with the killing of six Dimasa tribals on June 6 in the Lodi Basti area of the district.
June 10	Five persons, including two unidentified Hmar terrorists, are killed and three others injured in continuing inter-tribal clashes between Dimasas and Hmars in North Cachar Hills district.
June 10	Paresh Baruah, ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ in a telephonic interview with a vernacular daily in Guwahati, Asamiya Pratidin, dismisses claims of attack (May 27) on him by unidentified assailants in Bangladesh.
June 12	Ministerial delegation led by State Health Minister Bhumidhar Barman visits the Dimasa-Hmar conflict areas in North Cachar Hills district and subsequently instruct district officials to take all possible steps to stop ethnic clashes and restore peace and harmony among different tribes.
June 13	Leaders of Dimasa and Hmar tribes agree to revive their friendship and also help authorities to restore peace in the North Cachar Hills district. Visiting Ministerial team led by State Health Minister Bhumidhar Barman recommends an immediate operation to flush out HPC-D terrorists from the North Cachar Hills district. State Government sanctions Rupees 6.7 million for rehabilitation of Dimasa and Hmar residents displaced during the recent clashes.
June 14	UPDS terrorists kill three persons and injure three more at village Langki Ranghang Bihari Basti in Karbi Anglong district. Death toll later rises to four.
June 16	Approximately 70 HPC-D terrorists attack the Dipucherra Dimasa village in Cachar district and set ablaze at least 50 houses abandoned by the villagers recently. In a subsequent encounter, one terrorist is killed and a police personnel is injured. Jadikhe Naisho Hoshom (JNH), the apex body of Dimasas, demands a "thorough and impartial" inquiry into the incidents of violence in North Cachar Hills district.
June 17	In Darrang district, three hardcore ULFA terrorists and an Army Major are killed in an encounter, and a woman also receives bullet injuries in the crossfire at Neogpara village under Kalaigaon police station limits. State Government decides to request the Guwahati High Court to constitute a panel for a judicial inquiry into the incidents of inter-tribal violence between the Dimasas and Hmars in North Cachar Hills and Cachar districts.
June 18	Members of the Dimasa community allegedly torch 40 Hmar dwellings at Molong under Lakhipur police station limits in Cachar district.
June 19	Report indicates that Bangladesh Director General of Field Intelligence (DGFI) is probing into the reported attack on ULFA ‘chief’ Paresh Baruah on the outskirts of Dhaka on May 27, 2003.
June 20	Six HPC-D terrorists are killed in an encounter with security forces near Phylen village in Cachar district. ULFA terrorist and two personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are killed in an encounter at Nagajan in Tinsukia district. The terrorists also blow up an empty crude oil tank with a rocket launcher. State Government issues directives to the Deputy Commissioners and district police chiefs to remain vigilant following intelligence reports that some ULFA terrorists would sneak into the State to find safer places due to heavy rains. The report further indicates that ULFA cadres in small groups have already entered Lakhimpur, Darrang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Jorhat, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Karbi Anglong districts.
June 21	Reports indicate that ULFA, the Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF), a conglomerate of three terrorist groups–United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK)– active in Manipur, and the Tripura People’s Democratic Front (TPDF), a front outfit of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), operating in Tripura under a common platform have launched a "Coordinated Regional Military Offensive for liberation of the Region from Indian colonial occupation," code named "Operation Freedom". The reports further say that attacks under the ‘operation’ started on June 17.
June 23	ULFA terrorists ambush an Army convoy at Juriapool in Tinsukia district and kill a civilian and injure 10 troops. Report says that ULFA ‘commander-in-chief‘Paresh Baruah in an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC’s) Kolkata correspondent on June 21 admits that he was indeed attacked by unidentified gunmen in Dhaka on May 27.
June 25	The Oil India Limited (OIL) management agrees to pay salaries of the personnel deployed for the security of its various installations in the State for the next ten years. Visiting State Cabinet team at a meeting with the district officials at Silchar, Cachar district’s headquarters, decides to promulgate National Securities Act (NSA) against miscreants in the Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts. Government orders a judicial enquiry to probe the incidents of ethnic clashes in Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts.
June 27	19 ULFA and 11 NDFB terrorists surrender before the General Officer Commanding (GOC) IV corps Lt. Gen. Mohinder Singh at Tamulpur in Nalbari district. Cease-fire with DHD in operation since January 1, 2003 extended for another six months, beyond June 30.
July 1	Assam Government appoints Justice P C Phukan of the Guwahati High Court to probe into the inter-tribal clashes between Hmars and the Dimasas in the North Cachar Hills and Cachar districts.
July 8	Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Swami Chinmayananda, says that the Union Government would welcome mediation from regional leaders in the North-East to initiate negotiations with terrorist groups active in the region.
July 13	Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram says that the Tribal Affairs Ministry would deny funds to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura if found linked to terrorist outfits.
July 14	NDFB terrorists kill three civilians in separate incidents in Kokrajhar district. Parliamentary Standing Committee clears BTC Bill, agreement for which was signed with the BLT on February 10, 2003.
July 17	Three ULFA terrorists are killed in an encounter inside the Chariduar reserve forest in Sonitpur district. Three NDFB terrorist are killed in Sonitpur district.
July 18	NDFB terrorists kill four persons while branding them as informers of security forces at Dwimguri village in Kokrajhar district.
July 31	Union Cabinet agrees to confer Constitutional status to Bodo language approving its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
August 1	BTC bill tabled in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament).
August 6	Three ULFA terrorists are killed in an encounter at Srirampur in the Kokrajhar district. Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) passes the BTC bill.
August 6	Northeast terrorist groups, including the ULFA, NDFB, NLFT and KLO, call for boycott of Independence day (August 15) celebrations.
August 7	ULFA women’s wing secretary Bhomita Talukdar alias Deepali is arrested from the Jangrinpara village of Barpeta district.
August 15	Speaking on the occasion of the 57^th Independence Day in Guwahati, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says that the Government has an "open mind" on holding talks with various terrorist outfits active in the State and the terrorist groups also should not put any preconditions for the same.
August 18	Five ULFA terrorists are killed at Ghopabasti under Paneri police station limits in the Darrang district and separately two more in the Sessapani area of Kokrajhar district.
August 21	UPDS terrorists kill five persons, including four women of the family of a migrant, at Manja village in Karbi Anglong district.
August 27	A Court in Kamrup district sentences to life two ULFA terrorists convicting them in the Sanjoy Ghosh abduction and murder case. Ghosh, a social worker had been abducted on July 4, 1997, from Majuli and was subsequently killed.
September 1	The Supreme Court issues notices to the Union and Assam Governments over petitions filed by Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samiti (SJSS) general secretary Dibyojyoti Barua and Kanakeswar Narzari, the erstwhile chairman of the now dissolved Bodo Autonomous Council (BAC) challenging the formation of the proposed BTC.
September 8	Four HPC-D terrorists are killed and another injured during an encounter in the Jinam Valley area of North Cachar Hills district. President APJ Abdul Kalam assents to the bill for amendment in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to pave way for creation of the BTC.
September 14	Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, speaking to the media in Gangtok, says that Assam is hopeful of the demolition of insurgent camps inside Bhutan’s territory at the end of Bhutan King’s visit to India. Two army personnel, two civilians and a ULFA terrorist are killed in an encounter at Molung Pathar in Tinsukia district.
September 17	Three terrorists, two belonging to the NDFB and one belonging to ANVC, are killed in an encounter at Chhaygaon in Kamrup district.
September 18	A joint statement issued at the end of Bhutan King’s visit to India says both the countries shall work closely to dismantle insurgent camps in Bhutanese territory.
September 21	Former Chief Minister Prafulla Mahanta says that the Union Government should utilise the services of arrested ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia to start a dialogue with the outfit. Security forces kill three NDFB terrorists in two separate incidents in the Guabari and Belguri area of Nalbari district. Five Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) cadres are arrested from separate villages in the Hailakandi District.
September 26	ULFA demands an extortion amount of Rupees 2 crores from the Hindustan Liver Limited which has a number of tea gardens in upper Assam districts.
October 3	The NDFB observes its 12th 'Raising Day' at its Bhutan and Garo Hills camps.
October 11	Five traders are killed by the ULFA near Digulturrung tea estate in Tinsukia district.
October 17	70 terrorists including 40 ULFA cadres and 18 NDFB cadres and others belonging to smaller groups surrender along with arms and ammunition at Tamulpur in the Nalbari district.
October 22	Five NDFB terrorists are killed in two separate encounters in Darrang and Bongaigaon district.
October 24	ULFA 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka is arrested along with her son and an unidentified ULFA cadre at Phulbari near the Assam-Meghalaya border.
October 31	The Assam Government through a notification formally creates the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
November 1	ULFA newsletter 'Freedom' reiterates the ban on Hindi movies with effect from November 15.
November 6	Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) Karbi Anglong unit ‘publicity secretary’, Zat Kuki, in a press statement demands the release of four villagers abducted earlier by the UPDS.
November 8	Security forces rescue four minor girls, on their way to join the NDFB from Sundafa Reserve forest under Runikhata police outpost in the Kokrajhar district.
November 9	UPDS (pro-talks faction) ‘publicity secretary’, Tungeh Nongloda, threatens to evict all ‘outsiders’ if the KRA does not stop its atrocities on the Karbis in the Singhasan hills in Karbi Anglong district.
November 11	Police destroys five arms factories of the ULFA in various parts of Nagaon district and recover a large number of arms and ammunition.
November 11	KRA terrorists set ablaze rows of huts in two Karbi inhabited villages, Lunglit and Tisangsaon, and take several villagers hostage from Singhasan hills area in the Karbi Anglong district.
November 11	UPDS (anti-talks faction) terrorists abduct and kill four Kuki students from Baptist English school under Diphu police station limits in Karbi Anglong district.
November 12	UPDS (anti-talks faction) terrorists set fire to a Kuki house killing three children at Langmol village in the Diphu district.
November 13	UPDS (anti-talks faction) terrorists set ablaze five huts belonging to Kukis and kill three persons near Diphu polytechnic at Diphu town in the Karbi Anglong district.
November 13	ULFA’s ‘acting vice-president’ and ‘organizational secretary’, Ashanta Bagphukan, in a press statement, asks for a halt to ‘any further torture of Assamese youths by Biharis’.
November 14	UPDS (pro-talks faction) ‘general secretary’ Saiding A, in a press release demands KRA ‘to immediately hand over 13 Karbi hostages’. He also urges the anti-talks faction to hand over three abducted Kukis from Singhasan hills in Karbi Anglong district.
November 14	Security Forces kill three ULFA terrorists in an encounter at Sukhbari in the Kamrup district.
November 14	Assam Government announces a general amnesty for all BLT cadres and leaders paving the way for the formation of the Interim Council of the BTC.
November 14	UPDS (anti-talks faction) terrorists kill nine Kukis and set ablaze 70 houses at Ganjam under Howraghat police station jurisdiction in Karbi Anglong district.
November 14	In a joint statement, ULFA and NDFB ask all Hindi-speaking people in Assam to leave. The statement further warns of serious consequences that would have ‘far reaching repercussions’ throughout the region if innocent rail passengers continue to be attacked in Bihar.
November 15	Suspected ULFA terrorists kill two Marwari businessmen in Dhubri district and injure a Hindi-speaking person in Tinsukia district.
November 16	Suspected KNV terrorists kill three Synteng tribals in Block 1 area of Karbi Anglong district.
November 17	UPDS (anti-talks faction) ‘general secretary’, H E Kathar, in a press release, asks the KRA to release eight abducted Karbi youths by December 1 and threatens to launce ‘Operation Search’ if the outfit fails to meet the deadline.
November 18	More than 400 Pnar tribals, inhabitants of the Block 1 area on the Meghalaya-Assam border, cross over to Meghalaya following threats by the UPDS and KNV.
November 18	ULFA terrorists kill five Bihari truck drivers and injure seven others at Chagolia under Golakganj police station limits in Dhubri district.
November 19	ULFA terrorists kill four Hindi speaking people and injure several others in Nalbari town.
November 19	Four women are killed and seven others sustain injuries as ULFA terrorists open-fire at the Gangquarter area in the Bongaigaon district.
November 22	Eleven brick kiln labourers of Bihari origin are killed and seven others are injured by suspected ULFA terrorists in the Bordubi area of Tinsukia district. State Government suspends the District Superintendent of Police Satyen Gogoi, and transfers the Deputy Commissioner, B.M. Das.
November 23	Suspected ULFA terrorists kill five persons of Bihari origin in three separate attacks in Tinsukia district.
November 24	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill three persons of Bihari origin and injure eight others and set ablaze some houses at Khangkhlabari in Darrang district.
November 25	Security force personnel recover approximately 350 gelatin sticks and 52 electronic detonators from a house in Dakshinsuburi village in Darrang district.
November 26	Three ULFA terrorists are killed in an encounter with the security forces near Gopabasti Nalapara in the Darrang district.
November 27	The Assam Government, through an official notification, announces a general amnesty and withdrawal of cases registered against persons related to the over ground Bodo movement since 1987.
November 28	22 NDFB terrorists and a ULFA cadre surrender before the Kokrajhar district administration with arms and ammunition.
November 29	KRA terrorists kill seven Karbi villagers, including three women and a child, and set 250 dwelling huts on fire, at Paksangso, Rongkini, Zilangso, Bey Gaon, Napak Terang and Ringhang villages in Balipathar area under Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district. ULFA terrorists kill three persons, including two police personnel, and injure four others in an ambush at Mejeragaon village under Silapathar police station limits in Dhemaji district.
December 1	KRA terrorists kill five Karbi villagers in an attack on a church at Zero point under Bokajan police station jurisdiction in Karbi Anglong district. The terrorists also set ablaze 48 houses at the nearby Kuki inhabited hamlets of Tensingh Teron, Kania Rongphar, Kanching Teron and Sikori Tikori under Bokajan police station in the district.
December 2	Three Karbis are killed and twenty-nine houses are set ablaze by KRA cadres at Mentarang village under Diphu police station in Karbi Anglong District.
December 3	KRA terrorists kill three Karbi villagers and injure another besides setting ablaze 30 houses at Mansing Teron village under Manja police outpost in Karbi Anglong district. Two KRA terrorists are killed in an encounter with the security forces at Julium under Manja police station limits in Karbi Anglong district.
December 6	2641 BLT cadres led by BLT chairman Hagrama Basumatary surrender with 615 numbers of arms in Kokrajhar.
December 7	A 12-member Interim Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) led by the former BLT Chairman Hagrama Basumatary is sworn in at Kokrajhar in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. The BTC would function for a period of six months within which elections would be held for the self-governing body.
December 8	Three persons are killed and six others are injured as a time bomb planted by suspected ULFA terrorists explodes in front of a hardware store at Makum market in Tinsukia district.
December 9	The KRA offers to negotiate with the UPDS-Anti talks faction in a bid to end violence in Karbi Anglong district.
December 11	Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi requests the Union Government to proscribe the KRA, which is allegedly responsible for much of the violence in Karbi Anglong district.
December 14	A United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) hideout located at Senapunji hamlet under Kalicherra block in the Hailakandi district is destroyed and four terrorists are arrested.
December 15	Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) launches military operations against the ULFA, NDFB and KLO terrorists holed up in 30 camps in southern Bhutan.
December 16	89 terrorists, including 63 ULFA, 23 NDFB, two NSCN and one ATTF cadres, surrender at the 4 Corps headquarters in Tezpur.
December 18	GOC-in-C Eastern Command, Lt. Gen. J.S. Verma, says in Kolkata that an estimated 80 to 120 terrorists have been killed in the Bhutanese military operations.
December 19	Three ULFA terrorists are killed as they enter Indian Territory from Bhutan in the Manas Reserve Forest area of Barpeta district.
December 20	The ULFA, NDFB and KLO call for a 48-hour shutdown in 'Assam, Bodoland and Kamatapur' in protest against the military operations in Bhutan. Seven ULFA terrorists surrender in the Darrang district after escaping from their camp in Bhutan. ULFA 'publicity secretary', Mithinga Daimary, is arrested during military operations in Bhutan and later handed over to the Indian Army.
December 21	Four NDFB terrorists are killed during two separate encounters near Patacharkuchi in the Barpeta district and at an unspecified place in Darrang district.
December 22	Four ULFA and one NDFB cadre surrender at the headquarters of 5th Mountain Division at Ghagra near the India-Bhutan border. The Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) approves an amendment to add the Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Bhutan Government claims to have recovered more than 700 assorted weapons from the terrorist camps in the ongoing military operations.
December 23	Three ULFA terrorists are killed in two separate encounters along the India-Bhutan border at Kumarikata and Tamulpur in the Nalbari district. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, in a statement in Guwahati, offers general amnesty to all terrorists surrendering before January 31, 2004.
December 25	Five ULFA terrorists are killed while attempting to enter Assam from Bhutan at Baltinadi area under Tamulpur police station limits in the Nalbari district.
December 26	ULFA's ideologue and founder member Bhimkanta Buragohain alias Mama surrenders along with three other ULFA leaders before the Indian Army at Tezpur in Sonitpur district. ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, in an interview to a Guwahati based newspaper, offers conditional dialogue with the Union Government on the issue of Assam's sovereignty through a neutral third party mediator.
December 27	Jewel Garlosa, chief of the DHD, in a press statement, appeals to insurgent outfits in the northeastern region to come forward for negotiations. NDFB chairman, Ranjan Daimary, rejects the amnesty offer of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
December 28	I D Swami, Union Minister of State of Home Affairs, in a statement in New Delhi rejects ULFA's offer of conditional dialogue through a neutral mediator.
December 29	Cease-fire between the DHD and Union Government is extended by one year from January 1, 2004.
December 30	Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, in a statement in Guwahati, terms the ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua as a stumbling block in the dialogue process with the outfit.
December 31	Sixteen ULFA terrorists along with one MULTA cadre surrender at Jorhat.