Assam Timeline - 2002

January 1	Safe passage offered to United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists by Assam government.
January 10	Three terrorists, including an NDFB ‘commander’ killed in Karbi Anglong district.
January 15	NDFB terrorists massacre thirteen civilians at Dailongjhar in Bongaigon district.
January 20	Four ULFA terrorists killed in encounter at Toli near along Assam-Bangladesh border.
January 21	Eighteen persons massacred near Udalguri, Darrang district by NDFB terrorists.
January 23	Unidentified terrorists kill Vice-chairman of the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) in Karbi Anglong.
January 27	Suspected ULFA terrorists kill Kamrup Deputy district police chief Devajit Pathak and his driver on Boko-Nalapara road triggering Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) blast in Nalapara village. ULFA terrorists injure ten Security force personnel using remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Golaghat.
January 31	Three ULFA terrorists killed in encounter near Boko in Kamrup district .
February 1	Five Nepalese killed by security forces in Kokrajhar district. Security forces maintain that the five were terrorists who ambushed them. Locals dispute the version. An inquiry is ordered into the incident by the district administration.
February 7	The Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF) extends its unilateral cease-fire, announced on September 15, 2001.
February 10	Three unidentified terrorists killed by security forces in an encounter at Heirok. State sub Committee on Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) decides to recommend its formation under the Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution.
February 11	Four Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) terrorists arrested at Gauripur, Dhubri district. ULFA declares its support for proposed BTC. Kokarajhar killings’ report submitted to the district Commissioner.
February 12	Bhumidhar Barman, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on proposed BTC, submits report to the Chief Minister.
February 13	Assam cabinet formally approves formation of BTC.
February 14	Five ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter near State’s border with Arunachal Pradesh.
February 24	Four ULFA terrorists killed at Boragaon in Tinsukia district.
March 17	Three NDFB terrorists- one in Udalguri along the Indo-Bhutan border and two in Kundrabilgaon, under Harisingha police station limits in Darrang killed in separate encounters. Five ULFA terrorists -three from Balipara village and one each from Shanristipur in Nalbari and Nagaon arrested.
March 19	Eight terrorists- four from ULFA at Akhara, 70 kilometres west of Guwahati and three in Dhubri, and one NDFB terrorist in Kokarajhar killed in separate encounters. Separately, two terrorists – one each from ULFA and United Peoples' Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) killed in Kamrup and Karbi Anglong respectively.
March 20	All-party meeting in Guwahati accepts government decision to create Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution.
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. Separately, a 'commander' of ‘B’ Group, Arantu Hazarika alias Dwipen Talukdar killed in an encounter at Arikuchi Balagaon in Nalbari district.
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. ULFA ‘sergeant major’ Dilip Saloi alias Bhaiti Adhikary killed in Kamrup encounter.
March 25	Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, welcomes ULFA’s willingness for talks but asks to drop preconditions.
March 27	Local residents lynch two UPDS terrorists to death in Tardubi village, West Karbi Anglong.
April 1	Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002, not required in the State.
April 4	ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa rejects safe-passage offer made by government.
April 5	NDFB terrorists kill five adivasis (tribals) at Hatiphuli relief camp in Kokrajhar and another at the relief camp in Tongsi, Dhubri district. Four persons injured in an attack by suspected NDFB terrorists on the Kanchenjunga Express train at Alokjhar in Kokrajhar district.
April 7	Five ULFA terrorists killed in encounter at Balilessa Soondartala in Nalbari district. ULFA observes 23rd ‘raising day’ at its camps in Bhutan.
April 8	Chief Minister Gogoi informs the State Legislative Assembly that there are 18 Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) prisoners in the State. He also says, of the 5,005 persons booked under TADA , cases relating to 3,637 have been solved till February 2002.
April 12	Jorhat police arrest ULFA ‘acting district commander’ Jagat Phukan .
April 14	Reports say, Nalbari district police chief warns local residents of the formation of Islamic Surakhya Bahini (ISB), suspected to be a terrorist outfit. Three suspected Reang terrorists killed along the Assam-Mizoram border in Hailakandi.
April 18	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) ‘education secretary’ Khwrwkhang Boro in Lantibari under Patacharkuchi police station limits in Barpeta.
April 20	Three NDFB terrorists killed and two others injured in encounter with security force personnel at Labdangri near Rajaghat in Manas. Seven ULFA terrorists surrender at Laipuli in Tinsukia while another surrenders at Barhampur camp, Nagaon.
April 24	Three NDFB terrorists killed in encounter at Gernchigaon village in Darrang and two more in Nalbari district close to the Indo-Bhutan border.
April 25	A 'corporal and 'weapon training instructor' of ULFA killed in encounter at Mahakhuli in Nagaon. ULFA 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary denies statement attributed to chairman Arbinda Rajkhowa that the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) would be possible only after a 'sovereign' Assam is formed.
April 29	Reports claim Bhutan is likely to permit precision strikes by Indian security forces at ULFA and NDFB bases in Bhutan. Reports allege that ULFA is providing arms training to Rajbansi youth in the jungles of Bhutan.
May 3	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill former president of the Dhubri unit of the All Bodo Students' Union in Multijhora, under the Gauripur police station limits. Gauripur police arrest three Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) terrorists from Borbilarchar, under Dhubri police station limits.
May 7	Umesh Rabha bravery award instituted by the Assam government for civilians who help fight terrorism in the State. Three annual awards to be given every year. Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami rules out unilateral cease-fire with ULFA. Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami, in Delhi, rules out the possibility of unilateral cease-fire with ULFA
May 8	Four terrorists killed in separate encounters -two ULFA terrorists, one each at Elangidal and Dahali villages in Nalbari district, and separately two NDFB terrorists at Mahargaon under Charduar police station limits, Sonitpur district.
May 9	Illegal arms manufacturing factory unearthed during a raid in Nalbar village, Nagaon district.
May 13	Karbi groups meet Union Home Minister L K Advani. The latter assures them of official level talks on Karbi and North Cachar (NC) Hills issues.
May 14	Nine persons injured at Gauripur in Dhubri district in various attacks carried out allegedly by a combined group of suspected NDFB and ULFA terrorists. Two persons later succumb to their injuries.
May 15	At an adivasi rally in Guwahati various non-Bodo groups, including SJSS, allege that proposed the BTC is a prelude to a separate ‘Bodoland’ State. Assam government submits draft agreement to the Union government recommending the creation of BTC.
May 16	Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi appeals to the Union government to hold talks with the ULFA on the lines of the Naga peace process.
May 18	10 ULFA terrorists, including a woman cadre, surrender in Nalbari district.
May 19	First Umesh Rabha bravery award for the year 2002 announced. The award to be given to three civilians who would help fight terrorism in the State includes a cash award of Rs 20,000, a gold medal and a citation.
May 20	Self-styled ULFA commander Tapan Baruah alias Madan Das killed in an encounter in Talpathar Majhgaon, Tinsukia district Three NDFB terrorists killed in an encounter in Thulangjharkhola village, Darrang district. Suspected UPDS terrorists kill four members of a non-Assamese family, including a 26-day old child at Matikhola village in Karbi Anglong district. They also set ablaze five houses in the vicinity.
May 21	Assam observes anti-terrorism day.
May 22	Report says four 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 23	ULFA alleges that Bhutan has accorded permission to Indian armed forces to conduct a limited operation against it. UPDS general secretary Horensing Bey signs ‘cease hostilities' agreement with the Union government for a year, that is till year 2003.
May 25	Four suspected women terrorists arrested from Bhagsijhora village in Dhubri district.
May 26	Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) may use ULFA’s ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua to target its chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, claim reports.
May 27	Nine NDFB terrorists killed in encounter in Mahamaya forest area of Dhubri district.
June 2	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill three members of a family at Bongshijhora village, under Bogribari police station limits in Dhubri district.
June 8	A security force personnel, an NDFB terrorist and two civilians killed during an encounter at Milanpur village, near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh.
June 9	Two Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) terrorists arrested from a rented house at Rajgarh, Guwahati.
June 13	Two terrorists belonging to NDFB killed near Barpeta Road and another of the DHD terrorist outfit is shot dead at Harengajao in North Cachar Hills district.
June 16	Media reports say Adivasi Cobra Militants of Assam (ACMA) extended cease-fire with the Union government for six months.
June 18	Six ULFA terrorists killed in separate encounters--two at Vishnupur in Ulubari, another two at Lakhimpur and two more at the Dumni Tea Estate in Nalbari district. An SF personnel also killed in the last encounter. Suspected NDFB terrorists kill three civilians and injure another in Kokrajhar district's Runikhata and under Bengtol police station limits, in separate incidents.
June 19	Three- a SF personnel and two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter near Achabam Tea Estate in Dibrugarh district. NDFB terrorist killed in an encounter at Lotamari village.
June 20	Reports say, approximately 25 Afghanistan-based Al Qaeda terrorists infiltrated into Assam, through the international border with Bangladesh in early June.
June 21	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill three businessmen at Yogibeel, close to the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
June 23	Three UPDS terrorists killed in an encounter on the Silanijan-Sokihola Road. Two ULFA terrorists, SF personnel killed in Subansiri-encounter, Nalbari district.
June 24	Eight Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) employees killed, six more injuried Daldali, in Karbi Anglong district.
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 26	Report says book on Osama bin Laden, written in Bangla and printed allegedly in Kolkata is being sold in the Moirabari area, Morigaon district. Chief Minister Gogoi informs visiting Union Petroleum Ministry and a high-level team of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) that the State would raise a special battalion to provide security to ONGC field-staff working in remote areas.
July 04	Formal agreement to create the Bodo Territorial Council reached at a tripartite meeting, in New Delhi, between the Assam government, the Union government and Bodo groups. Decision taken to form a joint expert committee of Sate and Union governments to suggest changes in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULTA) has linkages with Bangladesh-based Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) Islamist fundamentalists, say reports.
July 5	Three persons-–two unidentified terrorists and a civilian-–killed in an encounter at Chakalipathar area, Golaghat district. NDFB terrorist killed in an encounter in the Madhyasantipur area, Dhubri district.
July 14	Suspected NDFB terrorists massacre nine Adivasis and injure five others at the West Maligaon forest village relief camps, Kokrajhar district. Intelligence reports caution authorities on the presence of a 70-member-strong ULFA gang in Sivasagar district, allegedly led by 'operation commandant' Dristi Rajkhowa, and warn that they might sabotage Independence Day celebrations.
July 16	At least three security force (SF) personnel of the Army’s Jat Regiment, including an officer, are killed and six more seriously injured in an attack by unidentified terrorists near Jirighat in Cachar district, Assam. Six ULFA terrorists, on their way to a training camp in Myanmar arrested by Assam Rilfes (AR) personnel in Mon district of Nagaland.
July 17	The Manipur-based United National Liberation Front (UNLF) claims responsibility for the July 16-killing of SFs in Cachar district and clarifies that 10 SF personnel had been killed in the ambush. It also indicates that the attacks were carried out at the behest of ULFA.
July 18	Seven security force (SF) personnel killed, and civilian injured in an ambush, laid allegedly by DHD terrorists near Diyungmukh, a local market in Assam's North Cachar Hills district. At a tripartite meeting in New Delhi, Union government agrees to defer the ban on the BLT and continue to suspend operations, for another six months beginning July 21, against the outfit.
July 22	Six Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) terrorists surrender in Dhubri district.
July 29	Four ULFA terrorists, including a self-styled 'lieutenant' and a woman cadre, killed in Parakuchi, near Ghaghrapar in Nalbari district.
July 30	NDFB lays an ambush near Durgapur village, Kokrahar district, killing five security force personnel and two others. Two ULFA terrorists killed in an encounter in Rajapara village, Kamrup district.
August 8	Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says in Guwahati, terrorists might launch suicide attacks ahead of Independence Day, August 15. However, his fears did not come true.
August 9	DHD, ULFA and NDFB join Independence Day boycott call given by various Northeast-based terrorist outfits.
August 12	Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Hare Krishna Deka says ULFA's linkages with Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samiti (SJSS), a platform of various non-Bodo organisatons, are being investigated.
August 13	Five Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) terrorists arrested from Udali, Nagaon district.
August 14	Four ULFA terrorists killed in separate encounters--two near Suklapara in Kamrup district and two more near Dudhnoi in Goalpara district.
August 21	Alleged NDFB terrorists kill four police personnel and a civilian in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast at Maladhara, Lakhipur police station limits, Goalpara. 17 other police personnel are also injured in the attack.
August 22	UPDS 'commander-in-chief' Long Kumar Kiling dies of feline attack in the forests of Assam's Karbi Anglong district. His body is subsequently recovered along North Cachar Hills district border.
August 23	Report says H Dimasa, 'people's supreme council vice president' of the DHD, is willing to talk with the Union government if he finds the latter 'serious'.
August 28	Five ULFA terrorists killed in Kachkuripathar, Sarthebari police station limits, Barpeta district. NDFB terrorist killed in Udalguri, Darrang district.
August 29	Assam Police chief says action would be taken against oil companies that have paid extortion money to terrorists. His warning follows reports of alleged payment to the ULFA by oil companies in Assam.
August 30	Two ULFA terrorists, in Darrang district, and an NDFB terrorist, in Sonitpur, are killed in separate encounters.
August 31	Three ULFA terrorists killed following an encounter in Bamunkuchigaon, Patacharkuchi police station limits, Barpeta district.
September 1	Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha re-appointed Assam governor for a second five-year term.
September 3	17 women suspected to be assisting terrorists arrested from the Sonai-Rupai reserve forest, Dhekiajuli police station limits, Sonitpur district. 16 women and six men arrested in Potanala area, Barpeta district, on August 30 on similar charges.
September 7	Security forces recover 2,960 electric detonators buried by suspected terrorists in the Dakshin Chubri area of Darrang district.
September 8	Railway police seize an AK 47 rifle, 36 rounds of Self Loading Rifle (SLR) bullets and other ammunition stocked in a box inside a coach of the Delhi-bound North East Express, in Guwahati.
September 9	Four NDFB terrorists killed in an encounter at Gopaljhoa, Mahamaya reserve forest, Dhubri district.
September 11	NDFB 'chairman' D R Nabla, in an interview given to a Guwahati-based daily through electronic mail, says the success of Bodo and Naga peace talks would encourage other terrorist outfits in the Northeast to come forward for negotiations.
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, Nalbari district.
September 15	Three NDFB terrorists and a security force personnel are killed in an encounter in Nailojailo, Sonitpur district.
September 22	Seven terrorists are killed in separate encounters in Assam. These include three National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) terrorists in Lungabari village, North Cachar Hills district; two Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) terrorists in Ratabari block (administrative unit) Karimganj district; and two ULFA terrorists in Barbathargaon, Kamrup district. Prabin Konwar alias Ramu Mech, the ULFA's 'east zone commander', and another ULFA terrorist identified as Ranjit Rajkhowa alias Jyoti Chaliha are arrested from a private nursing home in Diburgarh district.
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.
September 25	Reports say the Assam government has sent to the Union government a draft proposal on an amendment to the Indian Constitution in the context of founding the Bodo Territorial Council (BTC).
October 1	ULFA women 'sergeant' Tulsi Rabha and another woman cadre, Malti Santoshi, are arrested from Somphong Par, near Balda village, Goalpara district.
October 2	Union Minister of State in the Department of Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER) Arun Shourie terms ULFA's 'silence' over illegal migration from Bangladesh as 'intriguing'.
October 7	Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says a special cell of intelligence personnel drawn from State and Union agencies would monitor the activities of Pakistan's external intelligence agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), and of the Al Qaeda.
October 13	Unidentified terrorists kill five persons at a Hindu religious congregation (Durga Puja Pandal) in a grenade attack at BOC gate, Bongaigaon district.
October 18	Three NDFB terrorists are killed in an encounter at a hideout in Ringkhanagpur, Rangapara police station-limits, Sonitpur district.
October 24	Three NDFB terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in Barnadi, Tamulpur police station-limits, Nalbari district. Police in Jorhat seize approximately 600 detonators onboard the Naginimora-bound passenger bus coming from Dimapur, Nagaland.
October 25	NDFB’s ‘chief’ D R Nabla, in a statement in the online edition of its mouthpiece Gwdan Mahari (New nation), terms the creation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) a non-pragmatic move.
October 26	Three NDFB terrorists are killed in an encounter in Dongargaon, Assam’s Darrang district.
October 27	NDFB terrorists massacre 22 civilians after dragging them out of their houses in Datgiri village, Kokrajhar district. Suspected ULFA terrorists throw mortar bombs in a high security area in Dispur that houses State’s Ministers and many top bureaucrats.
November 5	Reports quote NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary alias D R Nabla as saying he would join talks if the Union government includes in the agenda 'historical rights' and the 'right to self-determination' of the Bodo people.
November 11	Suspected NDFB terrorists kill four BLT cadres and injure two more at Kukurakata in Darrang district.
November 16	Reports say the Union government has, for six months with effect from November 11, extended the applicability of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 to the whole of Assam, and the 20km-wide belt along the borders in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya..
November 20	Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami says the government is committed to restoration of peace in the Northeast and has offered talks within the ambit of Indian Constitution with Northeast-based terrorist outfits.
November 21	State 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.
December 2	Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Vajpayee alleges that Bhutan was ‘cleverly relocating' ULFA camps to evade pressure from the Indian government.
December 5	A report says NDFB 'secretary general' B. Swmkhwr alias Gobinda Basumatary was taken to Delhi after he was arrested onboard the Kamrup Express, at Rangiya railway station, on an unspecified date.
December 12	ULFA-Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) alliance sets free Pradip Sarkar, son of a Member of the Legislative Assembly, Chandan Sarkar, after nine months in captivity.
December 12	North Cachar Hills district Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) N R Seal succumbs to his injuries at Silchar Medical College Hospital. DHD terrorists had ambushed his office in Haflong, on December 9.
December 16	A meeting of State Legislators of all political parties over Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) formation ends inconclusively in Guwahati. The Sanjoy Ghosh abduction-cum-murder case trial indicting ULFA begins in Guwahati.
December 19	The BLT, Union government and Assam government discuss, in New Delhi, the boundary of the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
December 20	Three NDFB terrorists are killed in an encounter with a joint team of Assam police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Nalbaripam village, Barpeta district.
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 30	DHD, active in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts, announces unilateral 'suspension' of activities and 'cessation of hostilities' with security forces (SFs) with effect from December 31, for a period of six months. Cease-fire with Adivasi Cobra Militant Force (ACMF) extended for a period of six months with effect from January 1, 2003 at a meeting between Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and ACMF representatives in Guwahati.