South Asia Terrorism Portal

INDIA

Bihar: The Axis of Violence
Deepak Kumar Nayak
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
 

On November 22, 2021, armed squad of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) blew up the Government Panchayat (village level local-self-Government institution) building located in Judahi under the South Umanga Panchayat of Aurangabad District. The Maoists also blew up a mobile tower located in the vicinity. The rebels put spikes on the roads leading to the spot, to delay Police and other vehicles reaching the location. Some 60 to 65 Maoists had crossed a canal to reached Judahi village and first abducted four or five villagers and forcibly took them across the canal. The Maoists also assaulted some people, giving them a clear warning that they should go to their homes quietly. For about half an hour, the Maoists roamed about the village and pasted posters. After all the villagers had gone into their respective homes, the Maoists first blew up the Panchayat building and then started searching for the guard of mobile the tower. The guard remained hidden in his house, but the tower was set on fire. Eventually the Maoists left, shouting slogans, ‘Lal Salaam Zindabad’, ‘Jo hamse takrayega Choor Choor Ho Jayega.’

On November 13, 2021, about 25 CPI-Maoist cadres killed at least four persons of a family, including two women, and later hung their bodies in a cowshed in Manubar village under the Dumaria Police Station limits of Gaya District. The incident occurred barely 100 metres away from a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Chakarbandha. The Maoists shot dead the villagers after holding a 'Jan Adalat' (a kangaroo court) in which they branded the deceased as 'Police informers.' The Maoists also blew up their houses with dynamite and set a motorcycle on fire. A note posted on the wall of the house accused the family of being responsible for the death of four Maoists who were killed on March 16, 2021. Manas, the CPI-Maoist spokesperson for Bihar, Jharkhand, North Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh (BJNCUP) Simant Regional Committee, declared, in a press statement,

On March 16, 2021, four CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as ‘zonal commander’ Amresh Singh aka Tuntun Bhokta (Gaya), and ‘sub-zonal commander’ Shivpujan Yadav aka Pramod, Uday Paswan and Sita Bhuiyan (all three from Aurangabad District), were killed in an exchange of fire with the Security Forces (SFs) in the forests of Manubar village under Dumaria Police Station limits in Gaya District.

On August 25, 2021, around 10 to 15 armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed two members of a family, identified as Chatur aka Chapoy Hembram (60) and his son Arjun Hembram (28), at Bajnor Tola in the Chakai Police Station area in Jamui District. They were brutally assaulted with wooden sticks before being gunned down. The Maoists first held a 'jan adalat' in which they accused the deceased of being ‘Police informers’.

According to data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 26 Maoist-linked incidents have been recorded in the ‘Axis region’ of Bihar, covering Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui, Lakhisarai and Munger Districts, in the current year (data till December 5, 2021). In the corresponding period of 2020, there were 34 such incidents. Through 2020, the region accounted for 39 such incidents. There have been 1,086 such incidents in the region since March 6, 2000, when SATP started compiling data on Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-related incidents in India. 

Of 26 Maoist-linked incidents in 2021, five were incidents of killing, which resulted in 12 fatalities, including six civilians and six Maoists (data till December 5, 2021). In the corresponding period of 2020, there were four incidents of killing, resulting in eight fatalities (seven civilians and one Maoist). There were no further incidents of killing in 2020. Since March 6, 2000, the ‘Axis region’ has recorded 586 fatalities (266 civilians, 170 SF personnel, 124 Maoists, and 26 Not Specified) in 248 incidents of killing.

Between March 6, 2000 and December 5, 2021, Bihar has recorded a total of 1,180 fatalities (495 civilians, 271 SF personnel, 326 Maoists, and 88 Not Specified) in 456 incidents of killing. Thus, the ‘Axis region’ accounted for 49.66 per cent of the total fatalities in such violence in the State, since March 6, 2000. It accounted for 100 per cent of the overall fatalities in Bihar in 2021 (12 of 12). Prior to 2021, the region last accounted for 100 per cent of total fatalities in the State in 2016 (36 of 36). Since then, however, the region accounted for 91.66 per cent of total fatalities in the State in 2017, 92.85 per cent in 2018, 90.47 per cent in 2019, and 53.33 per cent in 2020.

Moreover, this region accounted for 53.73 per cent of total civilian fatalities recorded in the State (266 out of 495 fatalities) since March 6, 2000. In 2021, the region has accounted all six of six civilian fatalities recorded in the State.

Despite recent losses, the overall SF:Maoist kill ratio in the ‘Axis region’, since March 6, 2000, remains in favour of the Maoists at 1.37:1. However, during the same period, when the whole of Bihar is taken into consideration, the ratio favours the SFs at 1:1.20.

Moreover, five of these six Districts, with the exception of Lakhisarai, share borders with Maoist-affected Jharkhand, which is considered a ‘safe zone’ of the Maoist rebels due to its topography, thus adding to their susceptibility.

Indeed, three of these six Districts (Gaya, Jamui and Lakhisarai) are listed among the ‘25 Most (LWE) Affected Districts’ in eight States of the country, and Aurangabad has been classified as a ‘District of Concern’. The new category of the ‘Districts of Concern’ has been added to counter Naxal [left Wing Extremism] spread to new areas and to prevent any resurgence in areas where CPI-Maoist-led violence is waning. The move has been taken to address resource gaps and consolidate gains in these areas.

Meanwhile, the six most affected Districts – Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui, Lakhisarai and Munger – along with four others – Banka, Kaimur, Rohtas and West Champaran – find place in the list of the 70 districts to be covered across the country under the ‘Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme’ that funds focused operations against Left-Wing Extremists.

Further, four of these six Districts – Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui and Nawada – are among the most underdeveloped areas of the State and are listed among the ‘101 Aspirational Districts’ across the country, included in the 'Aspirational Districts Programme'. Health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure are the developmental parameters that were taken into consideration for the ranking. The ‘Aspirational Districts Programme’, was launched in January 2018, and aims to transform districts that have shown relatively poor progress in key social areas.   

The ‘Axis region; remains the ‘epicentre’ of Maoist violence in Bihar. However, overall Maoist violence in the State has declined dramatically. Bihar recorded a total of 12 fatalities (six civilians and six Maoists) in five incidents of killing in the current year, thus far (data till December 5, 2021). In the corresponding period of 2020, there were six incidents of killing and 15 fatalities (10 civilians and five Maoists), with no further such incident in the remaining period of 2020. Since March 6, 2000, the State has recorded 1,180 fatalities (495 civilians, 271 SF personnel, 326 Maoists, and 88 Not Specified) in 456 incidents of killing. The last SF fatality in the ‘Axis region’ was reported on February 14, 2019, when a trooper  was killed in a landmine blast in the Langurahi Forest of Gaya District.

Since March 6, 2000, SFs have arrested at least 1,056 Maoists in the ‘Axis’ region, and mounting pressure resulted in the surrender of another 49 (data till December 5, 2021).

Indeed, according to a July 29, 2021, report, ADG (Operations) Sushil Mansingh Khopde disclosed that armed Maoist cadres were only concentrated in the hills of Chakarbandha on the Gaya-Aurangabad border near Jharkhand and in the hilly areas of Jamui and Lakhisarai-Munger. Their combined strength in the area was estimated at about 100.

The Maoists, meanwhile, continue to make efforts to revive their movement – both through violent operations and strategic programmes. According to a September 1, 2021, report, the Maoists pasted posters demanding reduction in bus fares. The posters also urged the Bihar Government to bring down the State component of fuel taxes to reduce their prices. These demands are expected to garner the support of the common man.

The Maoists are fighting for their existence in their erstwhile areas of influence and command, and have suffered major reverses. Sustained efforts of the State’s Police machinery will curtail and contain the Maoist menace, creating the possibilities of an enduring peace in the ‘Axis region,’ specifically, and the State at large. 

INDIA

Assam: ULFA-I: Talking to the wind
Giriraj Bhattacharjee
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

On December 2, 2021, United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), in its bi monthly magazine Swadhinta, asked the Government of India (GoI) to send political envoys and not the military, if it decides to discuss its (ULFA-I’s) core demand of creating a ‘sovereign Assam.’ The rebel group argued, "Otherwise, we know that the dialogue would be nothing else but a death trap.” Though it did not clarify any further, the article does indicate that the outfit is asking for an interlocuter with a political background for a dialogue.

Earlier, on November 14, 2021, ULFA-I extended its unilateral ceasefire for another three months. Paresh Baruah, ‘president’ of ULFA-I’s ‘Supreme Council’ had stated that the outfit would not engage in any kind of ‘military operations’ during these three months. ULFA-I had first declared a unilateral ceasefire on May 15, 2021, which was again extended for three months in view of the COVID-19 situation in Assam. Then, on August 14, 2021, ULFA-I extended the unilateral ceasefire for another three months, observing, “The COVID-19 situation is yet to stabilise and as our social responsibility, we have extended the ceasefire for another three months and no operations will be conducted during this period.''

ULFA was formed April 7, 1979 and its core demand was the creation of a ‘sovereign Assam.’ Since August 2012, when the ULFA split in to two – ULFA-PTF [Pro Talks Faction] and ULFA-ATF [Anti-Talks Faction], later rechristened as ULFA-I in 2013 – ULFA-I has stuck to the core demand of the creation of a ’sovereign Assam.’

The Government, however, has made it clear that it is not ready to deliberate on this issue. Indeed, on November 17, 2021, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared,

No ULFA-I linked incident of violence has been reported since the declaration of the unilateral ceasefire. The last violent incident reported was on April 29, 2021, when the ‘Commander of the Western Command’ of the ULFA-I, Dwipen Saud aka Jishnu Asom aka Ramen Nath, was killed in an exchange of fire with the Security Forces (SFs) at Besimari in Bongaigaon District. On the other hand, the Security Forces (SFs) have arrested nine ULFA-I militants since the declaration of the ceasefire. Most recently, on November 30, 2021, SFs arrested an ULFA-I militant, identified as Girindra Chetia aka Pabitra Asom, from the Tinkupani Reserve Forest in Jaguan, Tinsukia District.

Further, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has tightened the noose around the group. On September 15, 2021, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet before a special court in Guwahati against Paresh Baruah and four cadres – Pappu Koch Bokoliyal, Amrit Ballav Goswami, Arunodoy Dahotiya and Munna Baruah – for their alleged involvement in a grenade attack in 2019 which led to injuries to 12 people.

Moreover, media reports claim that former ULFA-I ‘chairman’ Mukul Hazarika aka Avijit Asom, a London-based medical practitioner, could soon be extradited to India due to his association with the outfit. Hazarika has been interrogated by UK Government agencies in London over the past couple of months, following an extradition request by their Indian counterparts.

Indeed, the Government’s tough approach towards ULFA-I is reasonable, as it realizes that the ULFA ‘movement’ in totality has lost its prowess since the split in ‘parent’ ULFA in August 2012, and the splinter faction ULFA-I has failed to generate the same level of threat or anywhere close to the parent group, despite its best efforts.

It is significant that, between January 1, 1992 and July 31, 2012, out of 750 SF attributable fatalities (another 70 remained unattributable, as the identity of the terrorist group involved could not be established), ULFA was responsible for 354 fatalities, followed by National Democratic Front of Bodoland, 186; National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Dima Halam Daogah, 143; Dima Halam Daogah-Jewel Garlosa, 45; United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), 13 and  Dima Halam Daogah Nunisa, nine.

After the split while one faction, ULFA-PTF went into talks, the other faction, ULFA-I was found involved in eight out of 21 attributable killings in the SF category, followed by NDFB-IKS, seven; United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA), three; NSCN-IM, two; and Karbi People’s Liberation Army (KPLT), one.

Similarly, between March 6, 2000, when started compiling data on insurgencies  in Northeast, and July 31, 2012, out of the 1,083 civilian fatalities attributable to any militant group, 560 civilian fatalities, i.e., 51.75 per cent were linked to ULFA. NDFB was distant second with 288 civilian fatalities (26.56 percent).

After the split, ULFA-I has been found to be involved in 30 of 207 attributable civilian killings (86 remained unattributed).  Of the remaining 177 such killings, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Ingti Kathar Songbijit faction (NDFB-IKS) was involved in 146; followed by the Karbi People’s Liberation Army (KPLT), 14; Dima National Liberation Army (DNLA), eight; NDFB, five; Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), two; and Dima Halam Daogah-Action Dimasa faction (DHD-Action) and United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA), one each. Thus, ULFA-I accounted for 14.49 per cent of the total civilian fatalities. In 2019- 2021, no civilian fatality has been attributed to ULFA-I in Assam. In these three years, Assam accounted for one, three and eight attributable civilian killings, respectively.

Significantly, that in May and December 2014  NDFB-IKS engaged in several killing sprees targeting Muslims and Adivasis (tribal communities originally drawn from outside the State, principally as labour for tea plantations, also referred to as 'tea tribals'). Of the 146 civilians killed by NDFB-IKS, at least 108 were killed in the May and December incidents.

During this period ULFA-I also collaborated with major terror groups in the region and was a leading partner of United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFWSEA). Paresh Baruh had also formed the Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam (ANMMMTA), to create mass unrest across the Northeast. The stated objective of ANMMMTA was to engineer mass mobilization against the Government by exploiting various democratic movements, mobilization through electronic/ print/ social media, recruitment for extremist activities and fund collection.

However, SF action on the ground has wakened ULFA-I over time. According to SATP data, the group has lost at least 505 (35 killed, 336 arrested, 134 surrendered) of its cadres/leaders since its formation. On November 12, 2020, Dhristi Rajkhowa, the ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ of ULFA-I, who was also heading its ‘western command’, surrendered before authorities.

More recently, on April 25, 2021, ULFA-I released ‘assistant general secretary/finance secretary’ Jiban Moran aka Gunnat Dangori from its ranks due to age related ailments.

Paresh Baruah is aware of the changed realities, and is engaged in efforts to recover lost ground. To this end, he highlights emotive identity and livelihood issues which find resonance among the people of the State. Thus, on August 27, 2021, Baruah appealed to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to grant a permanent residence certificate (PRC) to the State's Assamese-origin people. Baruah stated,

Earlier, on May 14, 2021, ULFA-I had demanded that 95 per cent jobs in energy companies, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Oil India Limited (OIL), be reserved for the locals of Assam. It also demanded that INR 50 million from each of these companies be used for infrastructure development in the State, and that these companies provide LPG to the rural areas through pipelines.

Baruah has made some changes in his ‘party’ to strengthen his hold over the outfit. ULFA-I announced that, with effect from September 4, 2021, Paresh Baruah would be the ‘president’ of the ‘supreme council’, while ‘lieutenant general’ Michael Asom and ‘major general’ Nayan Asom were appointed as members of the ‘Supreme Council’. Nayan Asom was also appointed as ‘president’ of the ‘high council’ and ‘brigadier’ A. Z. Sironam Asom, ‘brigadier’ Arunudoy Asom and ‘brigadier’ (retd.) Samiran Asom were appointed as members of the ‘High Council’. Interestingly, the name of ULFA-I ‘chairman’ Mukul Hazarika was missing from the list, indicating that Baruah had taken complete control by removing the ‘chairman.’

Despite the declaration of the ceasefire, moreover, the group continues to recruit cadres. According to a November 13, 2021, report at least two promising kickboxers, Nayanmoni Chetia and Sabita Chetia, and three other girls from Assam had joined ULFA-I. In a video that surfaced on November 12, they were seen entering dense forests with the purpose of joining the militants. More recently, on November 23, SFs arrested an ULFA-I militant and two Assam youth from the Mon town area of Nagaland. The arrestees were on their way to ULFA-I camps in Myanmar via Nagaland's border.

Meanwhile, there are apprehensions that Assam might witness a revival of mass protests. COVID-19 had forced a retreat on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) agitation, but is all set for a relaunch following the successful agitation to repeal three farm laws led by various farmers’ bodies on the outskirts of New Delhi. The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional party formed after the 2019 anti-CAA protests, has announced a 10-day agitation coinciding with the Swahid Diwas (Martyrs’ Day).  The first ‘martyr’ of the Assam Agitation, Khargeshwar Talukdar, died on that day, December 10, in 1979.

In the meantime, talks with ULFA-PTF have stalled. According to ULFA-PTF General Secretary Anup Chetia, the reason is the absence of an interlocuter. On March 10, 2021, Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy had stated,

The ULFA movement is at critical juncture, and is finding the ground situation increasingly difficult, as SFs and investigative agencies continue to mount pressure. Nevertheless, the possibilities of mass agitation and instability in the State and the wider Northeast, do have the potential to generate events that could provide fillip to the flagging outfit.

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