United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) - Terrorist Group of Assam

Formation

United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was formed by Paresh Baruah along with associates including Rajiv Raj Konwar alias Arabinda Rajkhowa, Golap Baruah alias Anup Chetia, Samiran Gogoi alias Pradip Gogoi and Bhadreshwar Gohain on April 7, 1979, at the Rang Ghar in Sibsagar to establish a "sovereign socialist Assam" through an armed struggle.

Leadership

Arabinda Rajkhowa is the Chairman of ULFA. Vice Chairman Pradip Gogoi was arrested on April 8, 1998 and is in judicial custody in Guwahati ever since. General Secretary Anup Chetia is under detention in Dhaka after being arrested by Bangladeshi authorities on December 21, 1997. The ULFA has a clearly partitioned political and military wing. Paresh Barua heads the military wing as the outfit’s ‘commander-in-chief’.

Most of its top leadership operates from the outfit’s Headquarters located in the neighbouring Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Areas of Activity and Influence

The ULFA’s organisational structure is divided into four zones. The zones and their areas of influence are enumerated below:

A military wing of the ULFA, the Sanjukta Mukti Fouj (SMF) was formed on March 16, 1996. SMF has three full-fledged battalions (Bn): the 7th, 28th and 709th. The remaining battalions exist only on paper – at best they have strengths of a company or so. Their allocated spheres of operation are as follows:

• 7^th Bn (HQ- Sukhni) Responsible for defence of GHQ

• 8^th Bn Nagaon, Morigaon, Karbi Anglong

• 9^th Bn Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar

• 11^th Bn Kamrup, Nalbari

• 27^th Bn Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar

• 28^th Bn Tinsukia, Dibrugarh

• 709^th Bn Kalikhola

Links

The ULFA sought shelter in the forests on the Indo-Bhutan border from the early Nineteen Nineties and has established several camps in Southern Bhutan. The ULFA is reported to have linkages with several officers and personnel of the Royal Bhutan Army and Police – which ensures, among other things, a steady flow of rations, logistical support as well as aid and contacts for money laundering. The ULFA’s Bhutan set-up has a reported strength of around 2000 cadres spread across the outfit’s General Head Quarters, its Council Head Quarters, a Security-cum-Training Camp and a well-concealed Enigma Base. Numbering around 36 in all, the major camps of the ULFA in Bhutan include:

1. Mithundra

2. Gobarkunda

3. Panbang

4. Diyajima

5. Pemagatsel Complex

i. Khar

ii. Shumar

iii. Nakar

6. Chaibari

7. Marthong

8. Gerowa

9. Sukhni (Marungphu): General HQ

10. Melange

11. Marsala (Dingshi Ri): Council HQ

12. Dalim-Koipani (Orang)

13. Neoli Debarli

14. Chemari

15. Phukatong

16. Wangphu

Most camps and other establishment of the ULFA are in Sandrup Jongkhar, a district in Southern Bhutan that borders Assam’s Nalbari district. A straight road from Sandrup Jongkhar via Darranga Mela–Tamulpur–Nalbari connects Bhutan with Assam’s capital city Guwahati and other important towns of the State. The Darranga Mela–Tamulpur–Nalbari road from Sandrup Jongkhar is considered to be the most important 'revolutionary artery' in the region. Most of the ULFA’s cadres enter Assam through this route.

In 1986, ULFA first established contacts with the then unified National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) of Myanmar for training and arms. ULFA linked up with the Kachins through the 'good offices' of the Naga rebels. It learnt the rudiments of insurgent tactics from the Kachins (who reportedly charged Rs 100,000 per trainee).

Subsequently, links were established with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Afghan mujahideen. Reports indicate that at least 200 ULFA activists received training in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Seized documents and interrogation of some arrested activists revealed that the Defense Forces Intelligence (DFI) of Bangladesh had also trained ULFA cadres in Sylhet district.

ULFA also has a number of camps in Bangladesh. The ISI and the Directorate General of Field Intelligence (DGFI) of Bangladesh are agencies which facilitate the ULFA’s presence and operations. Several details of ULFA's Bangladesh connection were exposed when the Bangladeshi authorities arrested its leader Anup Chetia on December 21, 1997. He is currently under detention at the high-security Dhaka Central Jail. The main charges against Chetia include illegal entry into Bangladesh, possession of two forged Bangladeshi passports, possession of an unauthorised satellite telephone and illegal possession of foreign currency of countries as diverse as the US, UK, Switzerland, Thailand, Philippines, Spain, Nepal, Bhutan, Belgium, Singapore and others. Two other accomplices, Babul Sharma and Laxmi Prasad, were also arrested along with Chetia.

Apart from running training camps, ULFA launched several income generating projects in Bangladesh. It has set up a number of firms in Dhaka, including media consultancies and soft drink manufacturing units. Besides it is reported to own three hotels, a private clinic, and two motor driving schools in Dhaka. Paresh Barua is reported to personally own or has controlling interests in several businesses in Bangladesh, including a tannery, a chain of departmental stores, garment factories, travel agencies, shrimp trawlers and transport and investment companies.

ULFA’s camps in Bangladesh have been functioning since 1989, at which time there were 13 to 14 such camps. Commencing initially with using Bangladesh as a safe haven and training location, ULFA gradually expanded its network to include operational control of activities and the receipt and shipment of arms in transit before they finally entered India. The Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA) are the chief suppliers of arms for the ULFA through Bangladesh. Owing to greater vigil along the known routes of ULFA arms flow, the group has, in recent times, been making attempts to set up bases in Meghalaya, especially in the West Garo Hills to coordinate the transit of arms coming through Bangladesh.

ULFA has long maintained close linkages with the Pakistan’s ISI which procured several passports for Paresh Baruah and other ULFA cadres. Several ULFA cadres have also received arms training from the ISI at various training centres in Pakistan, close to the Afghanistan border. The top ULFA leadership was also in close touch with certain officers of the Pakistani High Commission in Bangladesh, who have arranged for their passport in various names and travel to Karachi, from where they have been taken to the terrorist training centres run by the ISI and its affiliates. ULFA had announced its support for Pakistan during the Kargil war. They described the Pakistani intruders – primarily Pakistani Army regulars and Afghan mercenaries – as ‘freedom fighters’. Some children of top ULFA leaders are reportedly studying in the USA and Canada under ISI protection. Reports indicate that the ULFA's mouthpiece, ULFA's a website newsletter Swadhinata also known as Freedom, receives editorial support from ISI agents inside Pakistan. It was in Freedom that the ULFA first supported the Pakistanis during the Kargil war. The ISI has provided ULFA cadres with arms training, safe havens, funds, arms and ammunition. Training has been given at camps in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan. At least 300 ULFA cadres were also trained at Rawalpindi and other locations in Pakistan. The training included courses in the use of rocket launchers, explosives and assault weapons. Paresh Baruah has been regularly visiting Karachi since 1992-93. Baruah is also reported to have met Osama bin Laden in 1996 during a visit to Karachi. The ULFA leader was reportedly taken to a camp on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where he not only received assurance of military help in the form of arms and ammunition, but also assurances of co-operation and logistical support of all international organisations owing allegiance to Bin Laden, including the International Jehad Council, the Tehrik-ul-Jehad, Harkat-ul-Jehad-ul-Islami (HuJI), apart from the Al Qaeda.

The ISI has also trained ULFA terrorists in counter intelligence, disinformation and use of sophisticated weapons and explosives. Pakistan has facilitated the visits of Paresh Baruah and other ULFA leaders to Singapore, Thailand and other countries, and a channel for the transfer of funds and arms has been created. Several madrassas (religious seminaries) and mosques sponsored by the ISI in the Sylhet and Cox's Bazar areas are being used to hoard and transfer arms procured by the ULFA from Thailand and Myanmar. ISI largesse enabled ULFA to buy arms in Cambodia, paying for these in hard currency routed through Nepal. The ISI also 'introduced' ULFA to LTTE transporters who, for a fee, undertook to transport arms from Southeast Asia into Myanmar. In April 1996 Bangladesh seized more than 500 AK-47 rifles, 80 machineguns, 50 rocket launchers and 2,000 grenades from two ships off Cox's Bazaar. Four Tamils were among those arrested

Co-operation between various terrorist organisations in India’s north-east and foreign groups was formalised with the formation of the Indo-Burmese Revolutionary Front (IBRF) in 1989. The IBRF was made up initially of the NSCN-K, ULFA, United Liberation Front of Bodoland, Kuki National Front (KNF) (all from India) and Chin National Front (Myanmar). Paresh Baruah is reported to have paid a substantial sum of money to the Kachins for the first large consignment of weapons from Thailand. Manerplaw in lower Myanmar on the border with Thailand, is the stronghold of the rebel Karen National Union that, in 1993, is reported to have delivered, from the Cambodian arms market, AK-56 rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled guns and anti-tank rifles to the ULFA. The organisation’s cadres have identified an arms dealer as an ethnic Kachin and wife of an assassinated Manipuri rebel Themba Song. The Communist Party of Burma is known to have gifted some weapons, mainly Chinese-made M10 rifles, to ULFA and Naga terrorist organisations.

Arrested ULFA cadres have claimed that Baruah used to smuggle heroin, procured in Myanmar, into Assam as part of "a personal operation". According to surrendered ULFA cadres, the ULFA terrorists had also crossed over into China via Bhutan and established contact with the Chinese Army. The group, on the basis of these contacts, had a rendezvous with a Chinese ship on the high seas in March 1995 during which a weapons’ consignment was transferred to them. A further consignment ultimately landed up in Bhutan in 1999, though it was actually acquired in 1997. ULFA also runs profitable narcotics business in Myanmar and Thailand. A close nexus between ULFA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had also been reported. The LTTE is reported to have trained various ULFA cadres in explosives handling.

Incidents

2003

• March 21: ULFA 'sergeant major' identified as Manoj Deka killed in encounter in the Nalanga Pahar area, Kokrajhar district.

• March 18: ULFA terrorist identified as Jitu Konwar alias Nitu Gogoi alias Ritu Sarma arrested in Sivasagar district.

• 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 13: ULFA 'commander' of a Bhutan-based camp, identified as ‘Captain’ Kamal Gogoi, surrenders to General Officer Commanding (GOC), IV Corps, Lt Gen Mohinder Singhat the corps-headquarters in Tezpur, Sonitpur district.

• March 12: Two motorcycle-borne ULFA terrorists attack Bongaigaon police station, injuring four policemen and three civilians.

• March 10: Reports indicate that ULFA terrorists are planning to abduct a group of Russian engineers of the Moscow-based company LARGE, engaged by the state-run Oil India Limited.
  Speaking in Delhi Deputy Premier Advani rules out immediate negotiations with ULFA terrorists.

• March 9: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says ULFA is desperate and that the March 8-attack on an oil refinery in Tinsukia was just to maintain its visibility.

• March 8: ULFA terrorists set-off an explosion at a five million-litre petrol reservoir at Digboi Refinery, in Tinsukia district, causing a huge loss of approximately Rs 200 million to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), a public sector enterprise. In another attack, they damage a gas pipeline facility at Kathalguri, in the same district, in a blast.

• March 7: ULFA terrorists fire rocket-propelled grenades at a police commando barrack in Bongaigaon district town. No one is injured in attack.

• March 4: ULFA cadres alleged to be planning attacks on oil pipelines are arrested from Teok area in Jorhat district.

• March 3: At a meeting in Guwahati, the Unified Command’s strategy group recommends the formation of a ‘crack police team’ for Guwahati to counter ULFA-attacks.

• February 25: ULFA attacks a local petrol pump at Chagolia, Dhubri district, injuring a person.

• February 18: Three ULFA terrorists are killed in an encounter at Borrangajuli village, Darrang district.

• February 18: A couple affiliated to the ULFA is arrested from Koligaon bus station, Mangaldoi police station-limits in Darrang district.

• February 19: ULFA kills a personnel of Assam Police’s Commando Battalion in an ambush at Nongardon Nepalibasti, Baithalangshu police station-limits, Karbi Anglong district.

• February 15: The ULFA’s mouthpiece, Freedom says that a solution to its 'problems' is to be sought outside the Indian constitution.

• February 12: ULFA 'sergeant' Nipul Bora surrenders to the Sonitpur district police chief.

• February 11: Four persons sustain injuries in a grenade blast triggered by ULFA terrorists inside the Prem Chandra Champalal complex, in Bara Bazar (local market) area of Assam's Goalpara district.

• February 3: ULFA terrorists abduct businessman from Jagiroad in Morigaon district

• February 3: Former Assam Chief Minister Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta appeals to Union government to start peace process with ULFA at the earliest with an 'open mind'. He also says that government should go ahead with peace process even if the ULFA wants to discuss 'sovereignty' of Assam.

• February 2: ULFA calls differences over geographical boundaries in Northeast to be an 'internal matter' and appeals for resolution without the involvement of Union government.

• February 1: Two ULFA terrorists killed in encounter at Nanoi reserve forest of Darrang district.

• January 30: ULFA 'political trainer' Bandana Das alias Babita Kalita arrested by police in Kamrup district.

• January 24: ULFA kills one SF personnel at Bhuyanpara inside the Manas National Park in Barpeta.

• January 22: 10 Northeast-based terrorist outfits, including ULFA, give Republic Day (January 26) 'boycott call'.

• January 20: Two ULFA terrorists killed in encounter at Rangsali, Tinsukia district.

• January 14: ULFA terrorist killed in encounter at Patkijuli village, Nalbari district.

• January 13: ULFA reported to be planning major offensive against some 'controversial' public personalities in Assam, including Ministers, ruling Congress Party's Legislators and bureaucrats.

• January 5: Assam government decides against granting safe passage to ULFA leaders and cadres during festive season of Magh Bihu.

2002

• December 25: Suspected ULFA terrorists throw five mortar bombs in quick succession in Kalibari and Ambri areas of Guwahati killing two civilians, including a five-year-old child. 16 more are injured in these incidents.

• December 24: An ULFA terrorist is killed in an encounter in Bagicha Chuba, Kalaigaon, Darrang district.
  Two ULFA terrorists are killed near Nakati forest, in Kokrajhar district.

• December 23: All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) president Prabin Boro volunteers to broker peace with ULFA.

• December 22: Three ULFA terrorists are arrested from Kaimari village, Golakganj police station-limits, in Assam's Dhubri district.

• December 17: Reports say the ULFA, in its fortnightly Freedom, alleged that security forces in Assam killed at least 500 ULFA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists in various encounters during the past 18 months.

• December 16: The Sanjoy Ghosh abduction-cum-murder-case trial indicting ULFA begins in Guwahati.

• December 11: ULFA terrorist Manoranjan Doley alias Mangal Singh is arrested in a search operation in Assam's Golaghat district at No. 3 Tarani Gaon, Merapani police station-limits.

• December 9: Police in Assam's Lakhimpur district arrest ULFA terrorist Rabin Deuri from Bhogpur, Bihpuria circle.

• December 7: Two ULFA women cadre surrender to the 181^st Mountain Brigade in Assam's Tinsukia district.

• December 5: Two ULFA terrorists, Pranjal Borah and Jayanta Ray, are killed in an encounter in Putani village, Samaguri police station-limits, in Assam's Nagaon district.

• December 4: Reports quote ULFA 'chairman' Arbinda Rajkhowa as saying the outfit would continue its 'armed struggle'.

• December 2: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in a memorandum to Prime Minister Vajpayee alleges that Bhutan was ‘cleverly relocating' ULFA camps to evade pressure from the Indian government.

• November 27: Four persons are injured in a grenade attack by suspected ULFA terrorists near Chilarai Bridge, Golokganj police station-limits, in Assam's Dhubri district.

• November 21: Assam Police chief (Director General) H K Deka says, in Guwahati, top-ULFA leaders have lost control over the rank and file and the latter indulge in extortion independent of their leaders.

• November 18: A report indicates that ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah has directed his cadres to target the tea industry in Assam for extortion.

• November 17: ULFA mouthpiece Swadhinata reiterates preconditions for peace talks.

• November-13: ULFA terrorists set free local contractor Alimuddin Ahmed abducted on September 2.

• November 12: Two ULFA terrorists, including a woman cadre are arrested from Dimow, in Assam's Sivasagar district.

• November 6: A group of villagers, in Assam's Bongaigaon district, lynch two ULFA terrorists.
  Two ULFA terrorists are killed in an encounter in Tinsukia district.

• November 6: Reports indicate of ULFA's extortion drive in Barpeta and Bongaigaon districts of Upper Assam. Reports also indicate of ULFA-National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplang (NSCN-K) tie up for extortion.

• November 5: Reports say a joint police team from Tingkhong and Borbam has nabbed ULFA terrorist Pankaj Gogoi in Assam's Dibrugarh district.

• November 3: In a joint operation with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Assam police destroy a training camp situated at the foothills of Molapahar, in Tinsukia district, being jointly used by ULFA and NSCN-K.

• October 31: Five ULFA terrorists led by 'corporal' Himan Deori of the outfit's Enigma-A group and seven NDFB terrorists surrender at the Tamulpur Army camp, in Assam's Nalbari district.

• October 30: Two top terrorists of ULFA’s Enigma Group are killed in an encounter in Ajanta Path area, Guwahati, Assam.

• October 21: ULFA terrorist identified as Dipu Gogoi is arrested in Moranhat, Dibrugarh district, Assam.

• October 15: ULFA, through its mouthpiece Freedom, reiterates the demand for a 'plebiscite' in Assam.

• October 12: An ULFA terrorist and his wife, also an ULFA cadre, are nabbed from a bus at Haloating Chariali, near Amguri, in Assam's Sivasagar district.

• October 6: An ULFA terrorist is killed in an encounter in the Jamduar Reserve Forest, Gossaigaon police station-limits, Kokrajhar district.

• October 5: Police sources suspect ULFA might have been behind a bomb blast that occurred in Assam's Nagaon district, killing a civilian and injuring three others.
  A school teacher from Garumara is arrested in Jorhat district for alleged links with ULFA.

• October 2: An ULFA terrorist is killed in an encounter in Bihjia village, in Assam's Nalbari district.

• October 1: ULFA women 'sergeant' Tulsi Rabha and another woman cadre, Malti Santoshi, are arrested from Somphong Par, near Balda village, Goalpara district.
  ULFA, in its mouthpiece Freedom, terms the government's effort of furthering development in Assam as 'mischievous' and a ploy to intensify counter-measures against the outfit.

• September 30: ULFA 'cultural secretary' Pallavi Phukan alias Kunjalata Deuri is arrested in Baluguri village, Tinsukia district, Assam.

• September 26: Media reports indicate, Assam is vigilant against any threat that might emanate from the suspected nexus between the ULFA and Nepal's Maoists.

• September 24: A court in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka sentences ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia and his two accomplices to seven years imprisonment for 'illegal possession' of a satellite phone.
  Sivasagar Chief Judicial Magistrate remands ULFA 'east zone commander' Ramu Mech and his body guard to seven days in police custody.
  Reports indicate ULFA has shifted two of its training camps from their current, unspecified location in Bhutan to Narphung, also in Bhutan.

• September 23: ULFA terrorists abduct a civilian from his residence in Kheremiagaon, Mariani police station jurisdiction, Jorhat district.

• September 22: Prabin Konwar alias Ramu Mech, the ULFA 'east zone commender', and another ULFA terrorist identified as Ranjit Rajkhowa alias Jyoti Chaliha are arrested from a private nursing home in Diburgarh district of Assam.

• September 20: ULFA terrorists kill a security force personnel in an ambush near Orang River at Gowabari in Assam's Darrang district.

• September 19: Two ULFA terrorists are killed in an encounter the security forces near the Nanoi river embankment in Assam's Darrang district.

• September 18: The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 'Red Horn Division' of the Army, stationed in Assam, Major General Gaganjit Singh claims that terrorists from two ULFA camps in Myanmar are ready to surrender, but are, however, being restrained by their leaders.

• September 15: In its mouthpiece Freedom, ULFA denies its suspected involvement in the Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailment on September 9, in Bihar State. Approximately 119 persons had been killed in the accident.

• September 14: Two ULFA terrorists and a security force personnel are killed in an encounter following a raid on a terrorist hideout at Uttarkuchi village in Nalbari district of Assam.

• September 12: Report says, a court in Dhaka would pronounce its verdict on detained United ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, on September 24.
  ULFA terrorist nabbed from a place under Bilasipara police station limits, Dhubri district, Assam.

• September 10: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter in Bhebladongpar, Patacharkuchi police station limits, Barpeta district of Assam.
  ULFA terrorists kill a Surrendered ULFA (SULFA) cadre at the local club-cum-library in Balajan in Dhubri district, Assam.

• September 6: ULFA self-styled 'lieutenant' Lakhyajit Gogoi alias Bhaimon Gogoi and another ULFA terrorist, Arvinda Konwar alias Devanand Chetia, arrested by Assam Rifles in Nagaland's Mon district.
  Assam Governor Sinha says ULFA's 'preconceived mindset' is impeding negotiations.

• September 1: Five ULFA terrorists arrested from Bhekulajan village, Duliajan police station limits, in Assam's Dibrugarh district.

• August 31: Three ULFA terrorists killed following an encounter in Bamunkuchigaon, Patacharkuchi police station limits, Barpeta district.

• August 30: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter in Suktaguri village, Darrang district.

• August 29: Report says an ULFA 'sergeant' and a female cadre surrendered to security force (SF) personnel in Assam's Dibrugarh district.
  A report indicates that oil companies in Assam have paid extortion money to ULFA.

• August 28: Five ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter in Kachkuripathar, Sarthebari police station limits, Barpeta district.

• August 22: Government confirms that South Abhayapuri (Bongaigaon district) Legislator Chandan Sarkar's son, abducted on March 2, 2002 from Falakata in West Bengal, is in ULFA's captivity. Alert people apprehend three pseudo ULFA cadres while trying to extort money from a local businessman, at a place under Kokrajhar police station limits.

• August 19: Reports indicate that intelligence sources suspect ULFA's hand, besides that of the Kamatapur Liberation Organisations (KLO), in the August 17-Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) killings in which five Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) activists had been killed.

• August 18: Reports claim ULFA is trying to unite with the Manipur-based United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
  Reports state that ULFA is trying to take advantage of the differences between Bodo and non-Bodo groups over the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council with the aim of creating disturbances in the Assam.

• August 14: Four ULFA terrorists killed in separate encounters--two near Suklapara in Kamrup district and two more near Dudhnoi in Goalpara district.

• August 13: ULFA conduit arrested from Gauripara area in Guwahati.

• August 12: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter near Darrangamela, Nalbari district. Suspected ULFA conduit arrested from Aarikusi, Nalbari district, Assam.

• August 10: ULFA issues a press release refuting allegations of its involvement in the abduction of seven BLT cadres.

• August 6: Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samiti (SJSS), a platform of various non-Bodo organisatons, hails the 'moral support' extended by ULFA to its opposition to forming the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

• August 4: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter in Khoirabari, Kamrup district. Two ULFA terrorists arrested at a place under Hatssinghimari police station jurisdiction, Dhubri district.

• August 3: Basanta Gogoi alias Dipen Bora, a 'corporal' in ULFA's 28th battalion, killed in an encounter in Chamguri village, Dibrugarh district.

• August 2: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter in Umananda, Darrang district.

• August 1: The ULFA, in its mouthpiece Freedom, says Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) would create political chaos.

• July 29: Four ULFA terrorists, including a self-styled 'lieutenant' and a woman cadre, killed near Ghaghrapar in Assam's Nalbari district.

• July 25: Reports say a nine-member ULFA team led by Ashanta Phookan entered Golaghat district to sabotage Independence day (August 15) celebrations.

• July 24: ULFA terrorist killed in Kukapar village, Barpeta district.

• July 20: Media report indicates security force personnel apprehend strikes by ULFA on Independence Day-eve in Assam.

• July 19: ULFA alleges that increased presence of Indian security forces on Assam's border with Bhutan is a hurdle in withdrawing from bases in Bhutan.

• July 17: Manipur-based United National Liberation Front (UNLF) while claiming responsibility for the July 16 killing of three security force personnel near Jirighat in Assam's Cachar district in a statement, indicates that attacks were carried out at ULFA's behest.
  Reports say, ULFA terrorists vacated two camps in Bhutan.

• July 16: Six ULFA terrorists, on their way to a training camp in Myanmar arrested by Assam Rilfes (AR) personnel in Mon district of Nagaland.

• July 14: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter at Dighali village, Nalbari district.
  Intelligence reports caution authorities in Assam about the presence of a 70-member-strong ULFA gang in Sivasagar district, allegedly led by 'operation commandant' Dristi Rajkhowa,` and warn that the group might sabotage Independence Day celebrations.
  Media report indicates that ULFA and NDFB terrorists based in camps in Bhutan may approach hospitals in West Bengal for treatment, following shrinking of medical facilities in Bhutan.
  Three ULFA terrorists arrested from Netabari village while on an extortion bid.

• July 10: Three ULFA terrorists arrested from Pallel Bazar, in Manipur's Thoubal district.

• July 8: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter in the Barpathar area of Golaghat district.
  Sidharthamani Bora, the self-styled finance secretary of ULFA's Sowansiri Anchalik Parishad surrenders in Jorhat.

• July 6: Major General Gaganjit Singh, General Officer in Command (GoC), 21^st Mountain Division rules out presence of a women suicide squad of the ULFA.

• July 5: A senior police official says ULFA has trained women in 'intelligence gathering'.

• July 3: Report claims 20 ULFA terrorists, including women cadres, infiltrated Assam to extort money and recruit cadres.

• July 1: ULFA in its mouthpiece Freedom asks Assamese students to launch anti-Hindi campaign, say reports.

• June 26: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter at Kardoiguri village in Tinsukia district.
  A report says ULFA involved is in fake currency circulation in Assam.

• June 25: Three ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter at Nanoipara, under Paneri police station limits.
  Civilian killed and 28 more, including three SF personnel, injured in a grenade attack by suspected ULFA terrorists near Mayapuri cinema in Bongaigaon.

• June 23: Two ULFA terrorists, one SF personnel killed in Subansiri-encounter, Nalbari district.

• June 21: A report says, ULFA is continuing with its recruitment drive in Upper Assam.

• June 20: Police in Dibrugarh arrest two ULFA terrorists from Khowang and Moran areas in separate raids.

• June 19: Two ULFA terrorists, one security force personnel killed in an encounter near Achabam Tea Estate, Dibrugarh district. · Assam Public Works (APW), a Guwahati-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) refutes ULFA's charges that it had, at the behest of the government, mobilised people to file complaints with Assam Human Rights Commission against ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah.

• June 18: Six ULFA terrorists killed in separate encounters--two at Vishnupur, Ulubari, another two at Lakhimpur, and two more at the Dumni Tea Estate, Nalbari district. One SF personnel also killed in the last encounter.
  ULFA terrorist arrested from Bisondoi village of Assam's Dhubri district.
  Reports hold, ULFA and NDFB procure arms from a Manipur-based terrorist outfit, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
  

• June 12 : Arpan Saikia, believed to be ULFA’s ‘operation commander’ for Rangpur Anchalik Parishad, arrested in Pathalibum village in Dibrugarh district.
  

• May 29: ULFA terrorist arrested from Thekeraguri village, under Tingkhong police station limits.

• May 28: ULFA terrorist arrested from Ratanpur near Tingkhong in Dibrugarh district.

• May 26: Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) may use ULFA’s ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua to target its chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, c;lim reports.

• May 25: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter near Sukhanjali village in Nalbari district.

• May 22: Ffour ULFA terrorists arrested following a joint operation launched by troops of the 2^nd Mountain Division and personnel of Assam and Nagaland police at Lahurijan village, under Bokajan police station limits.

• May 20: Self-styled ULFA commander Tapan Baruah alias Madan Das killed in an encounter at Talpathar Majhgaon in Tinsukia district.

• May 19: ULFA’s 28th battalion’s ‘sergeant major’ identified as Diganta Dihingia killed in encounter at Chetia Handique village in Sivasagar district.
  Assam police arrest ULFA terrorist from a house under Simaluguri police station limits.

• May 18: 10 ULFA terrorists, including a woman cadre, surrender in Nalbari district.

• May 16: Reports say ULFA mouthpiece Freedom (Swadhinata) leveled allegations against the Indian government of carrying out ‘reconnaissance surveys’ over its camps in Bhutan for a possible military offensive.

• May 14: Nine persons injured in various attacks carried out by ULFA terrorists, allegedly, jointly with NDFB terrorists at Gauripur in Dhubri district.

• May 12: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter at Dalanghat village in Darrang district.

• May 10: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter at the Pachim Kamarkuchi village under the Nalbari police station limits.

• May 9: ULFA conduit arrested from Nij Bihuguri village, under Tezpur police station limits.
  ULFA has renewed its attempt to escalate its terrorist acts in parts of Assam, claim reports.

• May 8: Two ULFA terrorists killed in separate encounters in Nalbari district––in Elangidal and Dahali villages respectively.

• May 6: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter in Umananda village, under Goreshwar police station limits.

• May 5: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter near Kekankuchi in Nalbari district.

• May 1: Encounter between Jorhat police and ULFA terrorists reported at Panijangaon under Mathura East police station limits. There were, however, no casualties.

• April 25 ULFA terrorist Bulbul Bora, self-styled 'corporal and weapon training instructor', killed in an encounter in Mahakhuli, Nagaon.

• April 22 ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter with security forces in Nalbari district Kokrajhar police recover the dead body of a girl from Hatimatha

• April 20: Seven  ULFA terrorists surrender  at Laipuli in Tinsukia. One more terrorist surrenders at Barhampur camp, Nagaon.

• April 19: Two United Liberation Front of Asom  ULFA terrorists  killed in an encounter at  Barandhara under the Ghagrapaar police station limits of Nalbari.

• April 18: A  ULFA  terrorist identified as Bikash Das  killed in an encounter at Dahkaunia under the Nalbari police station limits. A suspected ULFA conduit identified as Deepak Roy  arresed in Gossaigaon Natabari village under the Tamarhat police station limits of Kokarajhar district.

• April 17: One unidentified ULFA terrorist  killed in an  encounter at Pipla village under Patacharkuchi police station limits in Nalbari.

• April 15: Bagaribari police personnel arrest  two Muslim Revolutionary Democratic Front (MRDF) terrorists from the Sonkosh.

• April 13: Two  ULFA terrorists injured in an encounter at the North Bishnupur area, Nalbari.

• April 12: Jorhat police  arrest one ULFA ‘acting district commander’ Jagat Phukan of Dhansiri Anchalik Parishad.

• April 8: One  ULFA terrorist  killed by  near Hathigor in Darrang .

• April 7: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter at Balilessa Soondartala in Nalbari district. ULFA observes its ‘raising day’.

• April 4: ULFA chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, rejects the safe-passage offer by the Assam government.

• April 3: One ULFA terrorist surrenders at Barhampur camp, Nagaon.

• March 30: One ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter at Dalledela village under Phulbari police station limits in West Garo hills district of Meghalaya.

• March 29: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter at Bihira village near Nalbari, Assam.

• March 24: ULFA reiterates preconditions- venue for talks should be a third country, should be under United Nations (UN) supervision; and ‘sovereignty’ should also be discussed, for talks, indicate reports.
  A self-styled 'sergeant major' Dilip Saloi alias Bhaiti Adhikary killed in Kamrup encounter, Assam.
  Separately, A self-styled commander of ‘B’ Group, Arantu Hazarika alias Dwipen Talukdar killed in an encounter at Arikuchi Balagaon in Nalbari district on March 22.

• March 22: Two ULFA terrorists, including a woman cadre, killed in an encounter in a reserve forest under the Patacharkuchi police station limits of Barpeta district, Assam.

• March 20: ULFA terrorist surrenders before the Nagaon district police chief in Assam.

• March 19: Seven ULFA terrorists- four at Akhara, 70 kilometres west of Guwahati and three in Dhubri killed in separate encounters in Assam.
  Separately one ULFA terrorist killed in Kamrup and another arrested in Nalbari.

• March 18: Suspected ULFA terrorists kill a trader at Bhatipara village under Boko police station limits, Kamrup in Assam.

• March 17: Five ULFA terrorists -three from Balipara village and one each from Shanristipur in Nalbari and Nagaon arrested in Assam.

• March 16: One ULFA terrorist killed near No. 2 Bongaon under the Tihu police station limits, Assam.

• March 7: Two ULFA terrorists killed in the Ripu Reserve Forest area, near Gossaigaon, Assam.

• March 5: One ULFA terrorist killed in Niljulki village, Nalbari district, Assam.

• March 3: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter in Nemukur Konwargaon, near Bokota, in Sibasagar district, Assam.

• February 27: ULFA terrorist killed in encounter at Gugoloni under Naharkotia police station limits in Assam

• February 24: Four ULFA terrorists killed at Boragaon in Tinsukia district in Assam.

• February 22: One ULFA terrorist killed at Dhantola in Nalbari, Assam.

• February 20: One ULFA terrorist killed in the Dirok reserved forest area, Tinsukia in Assam.

• February 19: ULFA terrorist killed near Guwahati.
  Suspected ULFA terrorists kill two youths at Bistupur in Nalbari, Assam.

• February 14: Five ULFA terrorists killed near the Assam border with Arunachal Pradesh.

• February 10: Two Surrendered ULFA (SULFA) terrorists killed at Naharbari Kopili Xatra near Mangaldai.

• February 3: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter near Birubari Nizorapar in Guwahati, Assam.

• January 31: Three ULFA terrorists killed neat Boko in Kamrup district, Assam.

• January 29: A ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter at the Dibru-Saikhowa reserved forest near Doomdooma, Assam.

• January 27: ULFA terrorists kill two security force (SF) personnel in Kamrup district, Assam. Ten others injured in a separate attack in Golaghat.

• January 22: A ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter in the Raimana Reserve Forest area near Gosssaigoan.

• January 20: Four ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter at Toli village near Agomani on the Assam-Bangladesh.

• January 9: Two ULFA terrorists killed in Kokrajhar, Assam.

• January 1: United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) offered a 30-day safe passage by the Assam government.

2001

• December 30: Suspected ULFA terrorists kill a Congress (I) activist near Bejkuchi village, under Nalbari police station limits.
  A ULFA terrorist killed under the Duni police station limits, Darrang district.

• December 28: Suspected ULFA terrorist killed under the Kalaigaon police station limits in Assam.

• December 23: Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter in Nijkhusla, Kamrup district in Assam.

• December 21: Six Surrendered ULFA (SULFA) activists arrested in Shantinagar, near Guwahati in Assam.

• December 20: Three ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter near Suwagpur, Darrang district, Assam.

• December 18: Five ULFA terrorists-three in Nalbari and two in Sadiya along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, killed in Assam.

• December 15: Three ULFA terrorists arrested from the Motapam village near Dholaghat in Tinsukia district.

• December 9: One ULFA terrorist killed an encounter and two others arrested in Khoirabari and Darrang districts respectively.

• December 6: One ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter near Kumsung in Tinsukia district, Assam.

• December 2: Reports indicate ULFA likely to ‘close’ camps in Bhutan.

• November 27: ULFA declares as a ‘protest day’. Its Arabinda Rajkhowa appeals for a political settlement.

• November 23: Three ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter near Bolajhar in Darrang.

• November 21: ULFA terrorist killed in an encounter in the Dangori Reserve Forest area. Two ULFA terrorists arrested separately in Guwahati.

• November 18: Suspected ULFA terrorists kill Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader in Rangajan village, Tinsukia in Assam.

• November 10: ‘Chief’ of ULFA platoon division arrested in Siliguri, West Bengal.

• November 5: Two ULFA terrorists arrested in Dhubri.

• October 22: Three ULFA terrorists killed in Bholpur under Tamulpur police station limits in Nalbari, Assam.
  Five ULFA terrorists surrender in Nalbari.

• October 21: ULFA terrorist killed in encounter at Donjargaon in Nalbari, Assam.

• October 20: Two ULFA terrorists killed in encounter near the Dikcham Tea Estate, Rajgarh, in Dibrugarh district, Assam.

• October 18: Two ULFA terrorists lynched by the locals in Bijupara, Kamrup district in Assam.
  Security forces kill one ULFA terrorist in Darrang.

• October 17: Two ULFA terrorists arrested at Balikuchi village under the Nalbari police station jurisdiction.

• October 15: ULFA ‘publicity secretary’ along with 10 others surrender in Lajpuli, Tinsukia.

• October 11: Four ULFA terrorists surrender in Golaghat.
  Kamrup ULFA ‘area commander’ killed at Patharkmhah in Ri Bhoi, Meghalya.

• October 8: Two ULFA terrorists surrender in Jorhat.

• October 6: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) personnel arrest five ULFA terrorists in connection with Tinsukia district police chief murder in May 1996.

• September 27: Two ULFA terrorists and one Army personnel killed in encounter at Kumarigaon in Mahadevpur area along the Assam-Nagaland border.

• September 21: Two Army personnel killed in an ULFA-triggered bomb-blast near Kakapathar Kumchang Tea Estate. Another succumbs to injuries later.

• August 17: The ULFA reiterates its earlier pre-conditions for a peace process to be initiated. These are: (1) Talks would have to be held at a mutually decided venue outside India. (2) Talks would have to be held under the supervision of the United Nations. (3) The main issue to be discussed is 'sovereignty' for Assam.

• August 5: Three ULFA terrorists killed and five security force personnel injured in an encounter at Nalapara village along the Indo-Bhutan border in Darrang district.

• July 29: Two CRPF security force personnel and a driver of the vehicle they were travelling in killed and five more security force personnel injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion caused by suspected ULFA terrorists at Bhalukjuli in Goalpara district.

• July 27: ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, addressing the outfit's Martyr Day celebrations, calls for a referendum in the State to decide the issue of sovereignty for which the outfit is fighting. He adds that his organisation wants a ‘political solution’ to the 'Indo-Assam conflict.’

• July 17: ULFA, in its mouthpiece Freedom, calls upon the NSCN-IM to review its stand on an extended Nagalim to 'avoid being projected as a chauvinistic outfit'.

• July 6: Media reports suggest that the ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah has been injured in an explosion at the residence of a political activist of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal in Bangladesh, Mir Kasim Ali.

• June 13: Three ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter at Lainagar Dimrohala in Dibrugarh district.

• June 6: 12 security force personnel injured in a pre-dawn rocket attack by suspected ULFA terrorists on a Central Resrve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Dhupdhara in Goalpara district.

• June 4: Three ULFA terrorists killed and five police personnel injured in an encounter at Dhalajan Fatagaon in Jorhat district.

• May 3: Six AGP activists killed and 16 civilians injured in separate attacks by suspected ULFA terrorists in Nalbari and Goalpara districts.

• May 2: An AGP office holder and another AGP activist killed in an attack by suspected ULFA terrorists at Raniganj in Bilasipara.

• May 1: The general secretary of the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and also the party's candidate from Dibrugarh constituency, Jayanta Dutta and four other persons were killed and nine others injured in separate ULFA attacks in Dibrugarh town.

• April 29: Twelve AGP activists were injured as suspected ULFA terrorists exploded a grenade near 'Janata Bhawan', the official residence of the Chief Minister in Guwahati.

• April 25: The then Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, addressing a press conference in Guwahati, alleges that ULFA terrorists in connivance with the Congress Party were targeting the AGP candidates.

• April 24: Two AGP activists were killed by ULFA terrorists at Diwanpara and Chakihali Bazar of Bongaigaon district.

• April 15: Three security force personnel were killed in an attack by ULFA terrorists near the Paneri police station in Darrang district.

• March 30: Five ULFA terrorists killed in two separate encounters in the Tengi village of Tinsukia district and Kalakuchi village of Nalbari district.

• March 17: Three youths, suspected to be police informers, were first abducted and later killed by ULFA terrorists at Burinagar village in Nalbari district.

• March 15: Six ULFA terrorists belonging to the outfit's 'Enigma Unit' killed in an encounter in a forest area under Krishnai police station in Goalpara district. On the same day, six ULFA terrorists, led by the outfit's Kamrup district 'operation commander' Raju Ahmed surrender at Baihata Chariali in Kamrup district.

• February 24: ULFA's Kamrup 'district commander' shot dead. On the same day, eight ULFA terrorists are arrested.

• February 23: Six ULFA terrorists killed and three more injured in an encounter with security forces in Meghalaya, at Garobadha in the West Garo hills district, on the Assam-Meghalaya border.

• February 12: ULFA threatens wild life campaigner Vivek Menon for campaigning against poaching of elephants and rhinos in the State.

• February 2: Three ULFA terrorists were killed in an encounter in the Mazgaon area, Bongaigaon district. On the same day, 13 ULFA terrorists, including the outfit's 'foreign liaison officer', 'communication officer' and 'medical-in-charge', surrender at the Misa Army camp near Nagaon.

• January 31: Four ULFA terrorists were killed in two separate encounters at Khangbari and Soneswar village.

• January 26: 123 ULFA terrorists surrendered in Guwahati.

• January 2: Three Surrendered ULFA (SULFA) men, including former ULFA leader Abinash Bordoloi, were killed by suspected ULFA terrorists in Nalbari district.

2000

• December 17: Army sources claim that the ULFA chief, Paresh Baruah has been injured and his deputy, Raju Baruah killed in an internecine clash in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. However, Paresh Baruah later contacted news agencies and contradicted these reports.

• December 13: I D Swami, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, speaking in the Parliament, confirms the reports that ULFA has been procuring arms from the Chinese Army.

• December 8: Brother of Sasha Choudhury, 'foreign secretary' of ULFA killed by unidentified assailants in Nalbari district.

• December 7: 28 Hindi-speaking traders and farm workers from Bihar were killed by suspected ULFA terrorists near Sadiya.

• December 6: 153 ULFA terrorists surrendered in Dispur. House of Paresh Baruah, ULFA chief, in Dhubri district attacked by unidentified miscreants.

• November 28: Three non-Assamese, Biharis, were killed by ULFA terrorists in Tinsukia district.

• November 26: Four non-Assamese, 'Biharis' were killed by ULFA terrorists.

• October 27: ULFA terrorists massacred nine persons and injured 12 others in the Nalbari district.

• October 23: 15 persons were killed by suspected ULFA terrorists killed in two separate incidents in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts.

• September 18: A news report stated that in a special joint operation conducted over a period of two weeks, eighteen ULFA terrorists were killed in Bhutan.

• September 16: Two hundred ULFA terrorists operating in central Assam’s Nagaon and Morigaon districts surrendered with their ‘commander’ Pranab Bora alias Swapnil Deka Raja.

• September 10: An ULFA terrorist, who was the main accused in the killing of Sanjoy Gosh, General Secretary of an NGO, AVARD-NE, killed in an encounter in Jorhat.

• August 18: Four hardcore ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter with army in Tinsukia.

• August 15: Three hundred ULFA terrorists including one of its top leaders Lohit Deuri surrendered before Assam’s Chief Minister. A 'commander' of ULFA, Anil Bora alias Basant Phukan killed in an encounter with police in Dibrugarh.

• August 12: Four ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter with army in Tinsukia.

• May 27: ULFA’s ‘Assistant Publicity Secretary’ who was also a Central Committee leader and the editor of Freedom, Swadhinata Phukan, alias Kabiranjan Saikia, killed in an encounter with security forces at Gendheli, Jorhat district.

• March 14: Chief Minister Mahanta alleges that Pakistan's High Commissioner in Bangladesh is playing an active role in sending ULFA terrorists to Pakistan for arms training.

• March 5: The then State Veterinary Minister Hiranya Konwar escaped an assassination attempt by ULFA terrorists near Moran, Sibsagar district.

• February 27: ULFA terrorists killed the then State PWD and Forest Minister, Nagen Sharma. Four others were also killed in the attack, in Nalbari district.

1999

• October 2: ULFA attacks Assam Revenue Minister, Dr. Zoii Nath Sharma's convoy. Sharma escapes unhurt while three Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) activists and a security guard are killed.

• September 24: ULFA kills Dr. Pannalal Oswal, the BJP candidate for the Dhubri Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) seat, ahead of the polls.

• May 11: Seven security force personnel were killed and two others injured in an ambush laid by ULFA terrorists in Nagaon district.

• February 4: ULFA and three other Northeast insurgent groups launch websites (http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Congress/7434/ulfa.htm).

1998

• December 20: Six security force personnel and four civilians killed in an ambush laid by ULFA terrorists in Dhubri district.

• September 28: Seven security force personnel killed in an ambush laid by ULFA terrorists in Goalpara district.

• August 24: Three people killed in a massive bomb blast at Guwahati railway station. ULFA claims responsibility for the incident.

• July 24: 51 ULFA terrorists surrender.

• May 15: ULFA warns the Naga terrorist outfit, National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) about encroaching on Assamese territory. The warning follows reported killing of a family member of a ULFA leader by the NSCN-IM.

1997

• July 4: Prominent social activist Sanjoy Ghosh killed by suspected ULFA terrorists.

• June 8: Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta escapes a bid on his life when ULFA terrorists attack his convoy in Guwahati.

1996

• August 19: ULFA terrorists kill 13 security force personnel in three separate attacks.

• May 18: ULFA terrorists gun down Ravi Kant Singh, Superitendent of Police (SP), Tinsukia district.

• April 28: Lt. Col. Devendra Tyagi shot dead by ULFA terrorists in the Kamakhya temple, Guwahati.

• April 25: ULFA terrorists kill a local Congress (I) leader and four others near Margherita town, Tinsukia district.

1995

• November 23: Five security force personnel and their civilian driver killed in a ambush laid jointly by ULFA and Bodo Security Force (BdSF) terrorists.

• August 3: ULFA terrorists kill eight security force personnel in an ambush in Kamrup district.

1994

• November 20: Central government extends ban on ULFA.

• June 29: Security forces arrest Pradip Gogoi, the Vice-chairman of ULFA.

1992

• April 11: ULFA terrorists gun down ten security force personnel.

• January 14: State government suspends Operation Rhino; ULFA agrees to participate in a political dialogue with the government.

1991

• July 1: ULFA resumes terrorist activities, abducts 14 people, including an engineer, a national of (the erstwhile) Soviet Union.

1990

• November 28: Central government imposes President’s rule in Assam as terrorist activities unleashed by ULFA reach unprecedented heights. The entire State of Assam is declared a "disturbed area"; ULFA banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; army launches Operation Bajrang.

• May 9: ULFA terrorists kill Surendra Paul, a leading tea planter, causing many tea estate managers to flee the State.

1979

• April 7: United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) founded under the leadership of Paresh Barua.