Assam (Insurgency North East): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2004

At least seven National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists have surrendered at the Bengtol police outpost in the Kokrajhar district of Assam on January 1 and 2. Among them, six terrorists surrendered at the outpost on January 1 while another NDFB cadre laid down his arms on January 2. The surrendered terrorists also deposited seven hand grenades. Read less...

Four National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists were killed in an encounter with the Army along the India-Bhutan border at Paharpur under Darranga Mela police station limits in the Nalbari district of Assam on January 1. One AK 56 Rifle was recovered from their possession. Read less...

In a separate encounter, another NDFB terrorist was killed by security forces at Pakuanala under Kachugaon police station jurisdiction in the Kokrajhar district on January 1. A .31 pistol with live ammunition was recovered from him. Read less...

Separately, on January 1, the Border Security Force (BSF) in Karimganj district arrested an Indian spy, allegedly working for the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), while he was trying to sneak across the India-Bangladesh border into the Nilambazar area. According to sources, he used to pass on information relating to troop deployment, patrolling and the arsenal used by the BSF to the BDR. Read less...

Army Chief General N C Vij, during his three-day visit to the Northeast, stated in Guwahati on January 2 that during the recent military operations in Bhutan, nearly 650 terrorists had been neutralized. The Army Chief said, "We had estimated between 1,200 to 1,500 militants in Bhutan prior to the operations, although the Bhutanese Government had mentioned a higher figure." According to him, "the remaining militants were now scattered in isolated groups in Bhutan, and the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) had already commenced mopping up operations." He also said that "Joint exercises with the Myanmar Army against militants based in that country are likely in the near future, and we might come to that stage eventually." He however, added that "joint operations with Bangladesh had not been considered as of now." Read less...

Earlier, on January 2, a hard-core ULFA cadre identified as Balen Kakoti alias Ashish Gohain was arrested at the Haiborgaon bus stop by the Nagaon Police. Read less...

In another incident on January 2, unidentified terrorists abducted a trader from the Bokulia market under Howraghat police station limits in Karbi Anglong district Read less...

On the same day, police in Jorhat destroyed a ULFA hideout at Bahulting under Teok police station limits along the Assam-Nagaland border. A nine mm pistol, two M-20 pistols, and 22 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the hideout. Read less...

On January 3, an unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces (SFs) at Aurangamela under Tamulpur police station limits in the Nalbari district of Assam. One AK-56 rifle with magazines, 11 rounds of AK-56 live ammunition were recovered from him. Read less...

On January 3, eight terrorists, including six United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and two Muslim Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) cadres, surrendered to the army at Laipuli in the Tinsukia district of Assam. Read less...

Separately, two National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists surrendered on the same day before the Kokrajhar police along with an AK-56 rifle and two self-loading rifles. Read less...

Union Minister of State for Home, Swami Chinmayanand, on January 3, regretted that Bangladesh was denying the existence of terrorist camps on its soil when there were reports to the contrary from various foreign agencies. Speaking to the press in New Delhi, he however said that India was hopeful that Bangladesh would come forward to close down all such camps as done by Bhutan. Read less...

Meanwhile, on January 4, SFs arrested four persons from Kalarhat and Kismathasdah villages in the Dhubri district on charges of harbouring and maintaining close ties with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Read less...

Meanwhile, reacting to the Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley’s speech at the ongoing South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan, the ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, in a press statement on January 4, labeled him as ‘a liar dictated by New Delhi’. He claimed that there was absolutely no truth in the Bhutanese Premier’s assertion that the Kingdom "suffered from the presence of three armed extremist outfits of northeast". He added that the kingdom would not be able to "sleep peacefully" after straining its relations with its "neighbors". Read less...

On the same day, SFs reportedly recovered a universal machine gun, two AK-56 rifles, six magazines and 300 rounds of ammunition from Dhani Basti village under Paneri police station in the Darrang district. Read less...

Eight National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists are reported to have surrendered before the Army at Salbari camp in the Barpeta district of Assam on January 5. They handed over a large quantity of explosives and ammunition, including an AK 47 and a radio set. Read less...

In another incident on the same day, a group of eight terrorists, including six United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and two Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA) cadres, surrendered to the Army along with small arms and ammunition at Laipuli under Tingkhong police station in the Dibrugarh district. Read less...

Meanwhile, the North East Peoples’ Forum (NEPF), a conglomeration of 16 political parties of the region, has urged the ULFA leadership to hold talks with the Union Government. A statement released by the forum said, "The ULFA cadres should surrender arms and rejoin the mainstream to help establish peace in the region and create a conducive atmosphere for economic growth." Read less...

Media reports have indicated that suspected United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) terrorists have shot dead one person while injuring two others in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on January 5. Police sources confirmed that the incident occurred when armed UPDS cadres attacked a ginger laden truck of Kuki traders and fired at the vehicle at Phuding near the Bokajan tea estate. Read less...

Further, the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA), on January 5, handed over two NDFB terrorists to the Indian Army at Shimla in the Barpeta district. Read less...

Meanwhile, three United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists were reportedly arrested from Barama in the Nalbari district on January 6. Read less...

Separately, two National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists, reportedly escaping from Bhutan, surrendered before the Kokrajhar police. They deposited one AK series rifle, two SLRs and a large quantity of live ammunition. Read less...

According to a report in Asamiya Pratidin, a vernacular daily from Guwahati, suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists, on January 7, killed one Assam Police personnel during an ambush at Rowta in the Darang District. Read less...

In a separate incident on the same day, ULFA terrorists reportedly killed a trader at Ghograpar in the Jorhat district for having refused to heed to the outfit’s extortion demand. Read less...

Meanwhile, on January 7, suspected cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) abducted three persons from Dighli village in the Cachar district. Read less...

According to a separate report, the arrested ‘publicity secretary’ of NDFB, B Erakdao, was handed over to the Army by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) at Shimla in the Barpeta district recently. Separately, the NDFB ‘finance secretary’, Jonardhan Basumatary alias B Detsung, and ‘Commanding Officer’ of the Central Headquarters of the outfit at Namlang, Lt B. Udang alias Udang Kumar Brahma have also been handed over to the Army. Read less...

According to unconfirmed reports, on January 8, ten security force personnel were injured in twin ULFA strikes in the State. In the first incident, a group of terrorists attacked a police outpost near Krishnai in the Goalpara district injuring three Assam Police personnel. In the second incident, another group of terrorists attacked the Forest beat office in Ghilabari in the Kamrup district and decamped with four rifles, one carbine and a wireless set. Seven forest guards received injuries during the attack. Read less...

On January 8, ten terrorists including six National Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and four United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres, surrendered at Borrangjuli in the Darrang district with a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Read less...

On January 10, suspected terrorists of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) triggered an explosion targeting an over-ground crude oil-carrying pipeline of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) at Fakumharmoti near Gaurisagar in the Sivasagar district. There have been no reports of any casualty in the incident. Read less...

Separately, four National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists reportedly surrendered at Bengtol police station in the Kokrajhar district on January 10. Read less...

The Inspector General (North-east) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), in a statement in Guwahati, on January 10, said that there has a been a marked difference in the activities of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in the districts of Assam such as Kokrajhar, Nalbari, Barpeta, Darrang, Kamrup, Goalpara, Dhubri and Sonitpur after the military operation launched by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA). He also stated that "those fleeing the Himalayan kingdom and unable to enter Assam, have in all possibility sneaked into Bangladesh." Read less...

Meanwhile, a United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorist, identified as Aminur Islam alias Ajoy Das, surrendered in the Dhubri police station along with a 9 mm pistol and some ammunition on January 11. Read less...

Meanwhile, the All Dimasa Students' Union (ADSU), in a press release, on January 11, alleged that the Union Government is not interested to start a political dialogue with the Dima Halim Daogah (DHD), even after completion of one year of cease-fire. Read less...

On January 11, a terrorist belonging to a little known terrorist outfit, the Minority Liberation Tiger Force (MLTF) was killed in an encounter at Balunala village under Lumding police station limits in the Nagaon district. Another MLTF cadre was also arrested during the encounter. One SBBL gun and another shotgun were recovered from the terrorists. Read less...

Separately, on the same day, army personnel recovered a huge cache of ammunition belonging to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) from Serfanguri in the Kokrajhar district. The cache included 90 gelatin sticks, four magazines and 176 bullets. Read less...

The Assam police, on January 11, have reportedly arrested six persons on the charges of helping the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in triggering off an explosion at a crude oil-carrying pipeline belonging to Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) at Fakumharmoti near Gaurisagar in the Sivasagar district. Read less...

Meanwhile, three more persons have been arrested in connection with the explosion at a crude oil-carrying pipeline belonging to the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) at Fakumharmoti near Gaurisagar in the Sivasagar district. Read less...

Separately, on January 12, a terrorist of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), identified as Sameswar Borgoyari surrendered at Serfanguri in the Kokrajhar district. Read less...

Two persons, including a personnel of the Assam Police were injured in an encounter between the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and security forces at Puranimelia village under Gaurisagar police station in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district on January 12. The encounter ensued after a team of three ULFA cadres traveling in a vehicle, fired at the police personnel after being asked to stop at a checkpoint. According to reports, all the terrorists managed to escape. Read less...

Meanwhile, an insurgent outfit, the Bengali Tiger Force (BTF), in a press release, on January 13, has expressed its willingness for negotiation with the Union and the State Government. Read less...

Separately, an encounter between security forces and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists was reported from Bamunpara village under Golakganj police station in the Dhubri district on January 13. The terrorists, however, managed to escape leaving behind grocery items, medicines and some documents. Read less...

Separately, on January 13, two National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadres identified as Rakhangsa Basumatary, alias Rangsat, and Rwnswm Boro, alias Ringdao surrendered at Serfanguri under Kokrajhar district. Read less...

On January 13, three terrorists of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) surrendered at Serfanguri in the Kokrajhar district along with two SLRs, three magazines, 240 rounds of live ammunition and one .303 rifle. Read less...

Meanwhile, on January 15, in two separate incidents in the Tinsukia district, suspected ULFA cadres used improvised explosive devices (IED) to blow up two parallel crude oil and gas carrying pipelines of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). While the first blast occurred at Lankasi Gutibar under Lankasi Police outpost near Bordoubi, the second blast occurred at Majmamoroni village under Digboi police station. Read less...

Assam police personnel, on January 16, recovered a rocket launcher from a National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) hideout at Dangiri under Serfanguri police station in the Kokrajhar district. Read less...

In another incident, an unidentified terrorist was killed during an encounter between the Army and suspected Hmar and Naga terrorists at Moulin under Mahur police station jurisdiction in the North Cachar Hills district on January 16. An AK-47, two single-barrel guns and Rupees 62,000 in cash were recovered from the slain terrorist. Read less...

Media reports indicated that a group of four United Liberation Front of Asom(ULFA) cadres killed a civilian, on January 16, at Majmamoroni village in the Tinsukia district. Read less...

Meanwhile, according to media reports, a terrorist outfit, the Koch Rajbongshi Militant Force (KRMF) has been reportedly launched in the lower Assam districts to carry on armed struggle for the liberation of Kamatapur. The outfit’s extortion and recruitment drives have been continuing in the remote areas such as North Salmara, Abhayapuri, Deohati, Boitamari, Tulungia in the Bongaigaon district. Read less...

On January 17, five National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists surrendered at separate places in the Kokrajhar district. Two terrorists identified as R. Mwndangthi and Maokhang Narzary of Karigaon surrendered before the Garubhas police. Another NDFB cadre, ‘corporal’ Prafulla Basumatary of Gwjan Ouguri surrendered at Bismuri police outpost under Serfanguri police station. Two other terrorists, Dutan Narzary alias Poshim and B. Mwsrwmjati alias Mynna surrendered at Serfanguri Army camp. Read less...

On January 17, nine cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) including two senior leaders of the outfit surrendered at separate places in the Kokrajhar district. Four cadres including ‘District commanders’ of the No. 14 and No. 16 platoons of the outfit, identified as Mungdangni and Maudang Narzary surrendered before the Kokrajhar district Superintendent of Police. While three cadres surrendered before the Kasugaon Police, two other cadres surrendered before the Bengtol Police. Read less...

On January 17, suspected terrorists of the anti-talk faction of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) killed four woodcutters and injured another in Rangadubi reserve forest in Karbi Anglong district. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Karbi Anglong N C Hills People’s Resistance (KNPR), the armed wing of the UPDS has called for a 48-hour general strike in the Karbi Anglong district starting from January 25. In a press release, the KNPR General Secretary, H E Kathar has asked people to hoist black flags atop their houses during the Republic day celebrations on January 26. Read less...

Separately, on January 18, UPDS terrorists killed three Kuki women and injured three others at Basamilik village under Howraghat police station. Seventeen huts were reportedly set on fire by the militants in the village. Read less...

On January 19, suspected terrorists of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) exploded an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeting a crude oil carrying pipeline of the Oil India Ltd (OIL), embedded seven feet under the ground, at the remote Na Pathar village under Moranhat police station in the Sivasagar district. Oil India has yet to estimate the damage caused by the strike. Read less...

Separately, on January 19, 28 terrorists of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) led by G Gwjwnsa alias Gajen Goyari, ‘platoon commander’ of Bongaigaon district (platoon ‘B’) and senior leader B Sufungra, surrendered before senior police officials at Koilamoila in Kokrajhar district. Read less...

In a similar incident, a woman cadre of the NDFB, Geetika Narzary of Mahendrapur in the Kokrajhar district surrendered before police on the same day. Read less...

Meanwhile, K Timung, identified as a ‘commander’ of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), in a statement to the press on January 20, sought an apology from the Dima Halim Daoga (DHD) for having ‘secretly killed’ several members of his outfit in collusion with the security forces at Longku, under Umrangsu police station in the North Cachar Hills district. He further warned of retaliation ‘in self-defence’ if the attacks on UPDS cadres continued. Read less...

On the same day, security forces also rescued two villagers from the Singhasan hill area, who were injured in an attack by the United Peoples’ Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) terrorists on January 20. Read less...

Separately, at least four National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists have surrendered before the Kokrajhar police on January 20. The terrorists were identified as Joy Prakash Mushahary, Riten Basumatary, Ladip Brahma and Prakash Narzary and they have deposited three Chinese grenades, one SBBL gun and ammunition. Read less...

Separately, four National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists, identified as Joy Prakash Mushahary of Gossaigaon, Riten Basumatary of Bhomoraguri, Ladip Brahma and Prakash Narzary of Basugaon surrendered before the Kokrajhar police on January 20 along with three Chinese grenades. Read less...

On January 21, security personnel found dead bodies of two persons belonging to the Kuki tribe at Kanjan, in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Quoting the Karbi Anglong deputy commissioner, Anurag Goel, media reports said that the anti-talks faction of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) was behind the killings. Read less...

On January 21, two Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) terrorists, identified as Kapma Singson and Helet Singson, were arrested following an encounter with security forces at Gangang near Singhasan Hill area in the Karbi Anglong district. Two rifles and a handmade gun were recovered from the arrested cadres. Read less...

Meanwhile, on January 22, the Army submitted an affidavit before the Gauhati High Court declaring that the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) had not handed over National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) ‘publicity secretary’ B Erakdao to them. The affidavit also stated that the Indian Army was not aware whether Erakdao was in the custody of the RBA. Read less...

On January 22, a joint team of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel recovered an AK 56 rifle with two magazines and around 100 live cartridges, suspected to have been left behind by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists, from a house located at Kaimari Part V village under Golakganj police station in the Dhubri district. Read less...

In another incident, a 65-year-old farmer was killed during an encounter between suspected terrorists and security personnel in the Lokhra area in Guwahati on January 23. Read less...

In yet another incident, Assam police arrested one ULFA terrorist from Ledo No 1 Mulang village under Ledo police outpost recently and recovered 10 live cartridges of AK-56 rifle besides some incriminating documents from his possession. Read less...

On January 23, police personnel in the Kokrajhar district recovered materials used for preparing explosives from Gorsingpara forest area under Runikhata border outpost. Read less...

On January 23, three National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces at Santhaibari under Sorbhog Police Station in the Barpeta district. One AK 56 rifle, one Chinese rifle, four Chinese hand grenades, unspecified amounts of ammunition and incriminating documents were recovered from the site of the encounter. Read less...

Separately, 33 terrorists including 26 United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and seven NDFB cadres surrendered at Udalguri in the Darrang district on January 23. They deposited a large quantity of arms and ammunitions including an Universal Machine Gun (UMG). Read less...

Separately, five NDFB terrorists including self-styled corporal B. Bhudang, alias Bhuba surrendered before the army at Saraibil in the Kokrajhar district. Read less...

Meanwhile, media reports from Guwahati, quoting intelligence sources, indicated that a five-member United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) team led by Rubul Ali has already entered the city and is planning two major attacks on the occasion of the Republic day celebrations on January 26. Read less...

On January 25, two terrorists belonging to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were killed in an encounter with security forces (SFs) at Kalanadi under Tamulpur police station in the Nalbari district. An AK-56 rifle and three Chinese grenades were seized from their possession. Read less...

Separately, five NDFB terrorists including B. Bambrima alias Bhuban Basumatary, the Dhubri ‘district commander’ of the outfit surrendered at Monglajhora in the Dhubri district along with two AK-56 rifles, four magazines, 120 rounds of AK-56 live ammunition and one Chinese grenade. Read less...

According to media reports, on January 26, suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at D N Stadium in the Goalpara district of Assam. No casualty has been reported in the explosion. Read less...

According to the Telegraph, three United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres surrendered before police at an unspecified place in Kokrajhar district recently. Read less...

Another report in the Sentinel stated that five National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists including a self-styled platoon commander of Dhubri district, surrendered before the 11 Mountain Brigade at Mangaljhora in Dhubri recently. They deposited two AK-56 rifles and a Chinese grenade. Read less...

Golakganj police have recovered an AK-56 rifle and more than 100 live cartridges from Kaimari village in the Dhubri district. Read less...

Meanwhile, security forces have unearthed arms from two different places in Assam on January 27. In the first incident, state police have unearthed one Chinese rifle, two AK-47, one 7.62 light machine gun (LMG), three magazines, 263 rounds of .62 mm ammunitions, one 303 rifle, one 9 mm carbine with two magazines, one 7.62 mm Sniper rifle, two magazines, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher with three RPG shells, seven Gelatine sticks and a trunkload of army fatigues from Mainaguri of Kokrajhar district. In the second incident, one Chinese pistol, 15 live rounds, two magazines, one AK-56 rifle, 60 live rounds, one wireless set and a zoom rifle were unearthed from Panbari area of Bongaigaon district. Read less...

A delayed report said troops of the Red Horns Division of the Army engaged a group of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists in an encounter near Goubari, under Tamulpur police station limits in Assam's Nalbari district on January 28. A bid by ULFA terrorists to infiltrate was, thus, foiled. Quoting an Army official, the report added that though there was no casualty, the terrorists managed to escape allegedly to their Bhutanese hideout. Read less...

In a separate incident, 13 terrorists affiliated to the ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) have surrendered before security personnel on January 28. Read less...

On January 28, four United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces (SF) at Paharbasti near Guabari under Tamulpur police station in the Nalbari district. The incident occurred when the terrorists were trying to enter the Indian territory from Bhutan. The troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, two AK magazines, 60 rounds of ammunition and five Chinese grenades from the slain terrorists. Read less...

On January 29, four National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) terrorists surrendered along with one Chinese grenade and some incriminating documents at the Kokrajhar police station under Kokrajhar district. Read less...

Separately, on January 29, the Border Security Force (BSF) arrested three persons, suspected of having links with cross-border abductors and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) terrorists, following a raid in a house at Lakhipur in the Karimganj district. Two 9-mm carbines, six cartridges and camouflage fatigues were seized from them. Read less...

On January 30, six terrorists including three United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres, two Bengali Tiger Force (BTF) cadres and one National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadre surrendered before security forces (SFs) at Barpeta Road camp in the Barpeta district. Read less...

On the same day, the SFs reportedly seized arms and ammunition belonging to the NDFB from an unspecified place under Kokrajhar district. The seized arms and ammunitions included a Chinese assault rifle, two AK-47 rifles, a light machine gun with three magazines, a carbine with two magazines, a 303 rifle, and a rocket launcher. Read less...

Separately, on January 30, three NDFB terrorists surrendered before the Kokrajhar police at Taraibari in Kokrajhar district along with two Chinese hand grenades. Read less...

On January 31, a total of 156 terrorists including 53 United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), 91 National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Four Bengali Tiger Force (BTF) and four Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) surrendered at Tamulpur in the Nalbari district. At the time of the surrender, the terrorists reportedly deposited 56 assorted weapons including pistols, revolvers, AK rifles, .303 rifles, sniper rifles, Chinese assault rifles, 12 bore guns, UMGs, LMGs, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, Chinese grenades and explosives. Read less...

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) 'vice-chairman', Dhiren Boro, his wife and two other associates, arrested in Gangtok, Sikkim, on January 1, were reportedly brought to Assam for further investigations and trial. A senior Sikkim police official, SD Negi, said that a team of the Assam Police took the NDFB cadres with them by train on January 30. Read less...