UPPER ASSAM `LIKE A BATTLEFIELD' AS INDIAN SECURITY FORCES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CALCUTTA 000481

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER PHUM PINR IN BT
SUBJECT: UPPER ASSAM `LIKE A BATTLEFIELD' AS INDIAN SECURITY FORCES
RESUME FIGHTING ULFA

REF: CALCUTTA 0362


1. (SBU) Summary: On September 24, the GOI resumed its
operations against the Assam-based United Liberation Front of
Asom (ULFA). This resumption of hostilities came forty-one days
after the Indian military unilaterally suspended its operations
against ULFA. Though the GOI is calling the breakdown in the
peace process a "temporary setback," the Indian Army and ULFA
have escalated their operation in Assam. The GOI blames the
present impasse on ULFA's reluctance to commit in writing to a
ceasefire, unabated extortions, and growing belligerence. Since
the resumption of military activities, Assam has been wracked by
a series of ULFA attacks and security incidents. One local
paper wrote Upper Assam has become "like a battlefield." As
casualties mount, a quick end to this latest round of violence
is unlikely. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On September 24, forty-one days after unilaterally
announcing suspension of operations against ULFA, the GOI called
off the suspension, citing gross violation of an informal
understanding. Subsequently, the ULFA's representative
People's Consultative Group (PCG) also pulled out of the peace
discussions. On October 17, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil
said that the Center was keen to continue the peace process, and
claimed that in keeping with the suggestion of the Assam
Government, the Center was willing to release five ULFA militant
leaders. Patil described the breakdown in the peace process as
a temporary setback, reiterating that GOI was ready for dialogue
with ULFA if it shunned violence. ULFA has not offered any date
for direct talks nor has it ceased its violent activities..


3. (U) The GOI's decision to resume security operations came
after reports of massive extortion by ULFA during the ceasefire
period and the killing of a policeman and a tea garden manager
in upper Assam between September 22-23. Assam Police
Intelligence Chief Khagen Sharma told post that the members of
the Unified Command in Assam, the Army, the paramilitary and the
police were conducting operations against ULFA. He said there
are daily incidents of violence and also a number of surrenders
of ULFA members. Sharma said that operations have been launched
all over the state as security efforts in just a few selected
areas would enable ULFA members to shift to other districts.


4. (U) Since the resumption of security operations in Assam,
the state has been wracked by persistent violence. According to
the Assamese newspaper "Aji," Upper Assam has "become like a
battlefield." A few examples of recent incidents include:

-- On September 29, eight people were injured when a bomb
exploded outside the TDA supermarket in Tinsukia.

-- On October 1, in Dhemaji, ULFA killed a ten year old boy.

-- On October 3, two ULFA men riding a motorcycle were halted by
the traffic police on regular checking at Lakhimpur. One man
pointed a pistol at the policeman. As an alarm was raised, the
other man sped off leaving his companion behind. The gun-toting
man was chased by the police for a kilometer. Shots were
exchanged and the ULFA member died. An Italian made 7.65 pistol
with 16 rounds of live ammunition were recovered in his
possession. In another incident, a powerful bomb went off in
front of a hotel on the Chawul Dhowa Road near the deputy
commissioner's office just ten hours after the earlier killing
of the ULFA terrorist.

-- On October 6, a suspected ULFA militant was killed in an
encounter with the troops of the Army's Red Horn Division at
Jartaluk village near Dhamdhama in Nalbari district. The Army
recovered a revolver, a hand grenade, two live cartridges, two
fired cartridges and some blank extortion letters from his
possession. The militant had been taking shelter in the village
when the Army, acting on a tip-off, cordoned off the area. The
militant then fired at the Army, to which the Army retaliated,
resulting in his death.

-- On October 7, the ULFA triggered an IED blast under an Army
truck near Mahmora in Sivasagar district, in which three Army
personnel were injured and the vehicle damaged. Police said that
the incident was in retaliation for the killing of a hardcore
ULFA member, Debojit Konwar, at Borhat in the same district on

CALCUTTA 00000481 002 OF 002


October 6. In another incident in upper Assam, a grenade was
hurled in the Tengakhat police station in Dibrugarh, but no one
was injured.

-- On October 8, two motorcycle-riding suspected ULFA members
shot dead Ajay Medhi, an ULFA member who had surrendered to
authorities, at a village on the outskirts of Sarthebari town.
Suspected ULFA militants reportedly threw grenades in front of
the Amguri police station in Sivasagar district.

-- On October 9, one ULFA militant was detained while the other
managed to flee after they lobbed a grenade near a market in
Digboi.

-- On October 15, suspected ULFA militants shot dead a
businessman, Om Prakash Agarwala, at his shop at Moran
Singrijan. The two militants, who came on a motorcycle, shot
Agarwala after he had opened the shop door. Four AK-56
cartridges were later recovered from the spot. Three days back,
the militants had served Agarwala with an extortion notice of
for around USD $25,000.

-- On October 15, the body of an ULFA militant was found at KK
Handique Nagar, Kahilipara under Dispur Police Station. Police
said the militant, identified as Gautom Kalita of Rangiya, was
carrying an explosive with him when it went off accidentally,
killing him on the spot. Police said that the militant was in
the city to carry out subversive activities.


5. (SBU) Comment: Given the scope of the GOI's response to
the breakdown of talks, it is clear that Army leadership has
asked for and received greater latitude in responding to ULFA
terrorism. However, during the cease-fire period, ULFA used the
relative peace to regroup and strengthen. The militant group
can be expected to continue small-scale bombing and shooting
attacks to target key infrastructure and security officials.
ULFA will also hope that if the security forces respond in a
heavy-handed manner, the group will garner additional sympathy
within the local populace. Persistent violence can be expected
in Assam for at least the next few months, until ULFA is
weakened enough to again seek some negotiated settlement with
the GOI.
JARDINE