Assam (Insurgency North East): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

On October 1, Director General of Police (DGP), Assam, Gyanendra Pratap Singh announced that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been extended in four districts of the State for six more months while it has been withdrawn from four other Districts, reports The Hindu. Singh said, "From today, only four districts in Assam will have AFSPA. These are Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Charaideo. The AFSPA has been withdrawn from Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao with effect from October 1.” Read less...

On October 8, a total of 1,182 former Adivasi militants who laid down their arms on July 6, 2023, were given financial assistance of INR 4,000,00 each as fixed deposit for their rehabilitation in Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) District in Assam, reports Northeast Now. The former rebels belonged to the Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam (ACMA), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Birsa Commando Force (BCF), Santhal Tiger Force (STF), and Adivasi People’s Army (APA). Officials said apart from the fixed deposit of INR 4,000,00, the former insurgents would also get INR 6,000 per month for three years under the Centre’s special scheme meant for rehabilitation of surrendered militants in the Northeast. They would also be provided with skill development training for proper rehabilitation. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 16, arrested Mohammad Noor Hussain, one of the prime accused in a case related to a bomb blast in Kwakta, Bishnupur District of Manipur from Cachar in Silchar District of Assam, reports India TodayNE. The case was initially registered by Manipur Police, on June 21, 2023, and later re-registered by the NIA on June 23, 2023, in Imphal. NIA investigations revealed the involvement of Hussain in the blast that took place on June 21, 2023, in an improvised explosive device (IED)-laden vehicle parked over a bridge located in the area of Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai and Kwakta along Tiddim road in Bishnupur District, Manipur. Read less...

The United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) warned the Bengali-speaking people living in Assam to stop the demand for the formation of a separate Barak Valley state within 60 days, reports Northeast Now on October 16. The ULFA-I threatened that if the Bengalis failed to do so, the entire Bengali-speaking population in the State would be responsible for any “untoward incident” in the future. The warning by the ULFA-I came as some groups raised their voices demanding a separate Barak Valley state carved out of Assam. Read less...

The Koch Nationalism faction of the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO-KN), led by Jeevan Singha Koch, the former KLO ‘chief,’ refused to engage in peace talks with the government, reports The Sentinel on October 17. In a statement, the militant outfit affirmed its commitment to the pursuit of an 'Independent Kamatapur,' asserting that it does not consider itself part of the Indian Union and decided to fight for the sovereignty of Kamatapur. Read less...

On October 20, the Assam government distributed grants of INR 2,000,00 each to 181 ex-cadres of the National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) in Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) District of Assam in a bid to fostering peace and rehabilitation, reports Northeast Now. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) recovered a grenade near a Buddhist temple at Pengeri Inthem in Tinsukia District of Assam on October 21, reports indiatodayne.in. SFs cordoned off the area and recovered the grenade. Read less...

On October 25, the Pro-Talks faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-PTF) held a meeting in Kaziranga in Golaghat District of Assam, reports India TodayNE. A delegation from the ULFA-PTF, led by ‘Chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa and ‘General Secretary’ Anup Chetia was present in the meeting which was attended by at least 300 ex-ULFA cadres. Anup Chetia said, “We hope to sign a peace deal with the Centre before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. We request the Central government for inclusion of two major clauses in the agreement as political and constitutional safeguard were our most important demand. We fought for the protection of the identity of indigenous people against foreigners. And only political right can ensure the safeguard of the interest of the indigenous communities.” Read less...

On October 26, Assam Police arrested a cadre of National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) identified as Sujit Marak alias Sanjay (38) in connection with an extortion case from Rupshi in Dhubri District of Assam, reports India TodayNE. Marak was involved in collecting money from various businesses and individuals in the area. Sources stated that NLFB had established a temporary camp in Bashbari area in Kokrajhar District near Dhubri where Marak was arrested and had been engaging in extortion activities within the local community. Read less...

On October 28, a total of 181 cadres of Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) laid down their arms in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Haflong in Dima Hasao District of Assam, and returned to the mainstream, reports India TodayNE. Along with the laying down of arms, distribution of one-time financial grant of fixed deposit of INR 4,000,00 was also given to each former cadre of DNLA during the ceremony, in order to help them return to the mainstream. In a statement, Sarma said that the surrender of DNLA militants was a “historic day” for Assam and for the country. He said that the government was committed to ensuring the development and well-being of the Dimasa people and that the DNLA cadres who had surrendered would be provided with all necessary assistance to reintegrate into society. Read less...

On October 30, Assam Police arrested one person identified as Kamal Basumatary along with arms and ammunition in Chirang District of Assam, reports India TodayNE. One 7.65 mm pistol and 12 live rounds of bullets were seized from his possession. Read less...

One person identified as Palash Konwar from Damoikhati in Borpathar in Dibrugarh District in Assam has reportedly joined United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (ULFA-I), India TodayNE reports on October 30. Palash Konwar released a video on social media confirming his allegiance to the outfit. Read less...