United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) - Terrorist Group of Assam

Formation

The United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) was reportedly formed in the year 2002.

Objectives

The ULFBV was formed with the purported objective of creating a separate homeland for the tribal population in the Karimganj and Hailakandi districts of Assam.

Leadership and Area of Operation

Not much is known about the leadership structure. The outfit’s ‘commander in chief’ Pancharam Reang and his bodyguard, Dulal Singh Reang, were arrested on September 2, 2003, in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The outfit has an estimated strength of 50 cadres, all of whom are tribals.

The Karimganj and Hailakandi districts remain the area of operations of the outfit. After formation, the outfit is reported to have planned to organize a series of strikes on the soft targets in both the districts. It also had prepared a plan to abduct civilians for ransom.

Linkages and Activities

The interrogation of the ULFBV ‘commander in chief’ revealed that the outfit’s attempt to have a nexus with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) in Nagaland for arms fell through after the latter reportedly demanded an ‘exorbitant price’. Later, the ULFBV is also reported to have attempted procuring arms from Bangladesh. At present, the outfit is known to have two AK-47 rifles, three 9mm pistols and about 40 country made guns in its possession.

According to official sources, two ULFBV cadres were killed in the year 2002.