Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KOLKATA192
2008-06-30 12:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
SUSPECTED ULFA BOMB KILLS 5 IN ASSAM AND INJURES 70
how-toVZCZCXRO6342 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0192 1821224 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301224Z JUN 08 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2051 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1930 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0890 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0895 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0603 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0586 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0446 RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2509
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000192
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER MARR ASEC KCRM PGOV IN BT
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED ULFA BOMB KILLS 5 IN ASSAM AND INJURES 70
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000192
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER MARR ASEC KCRM PGOV IN BT
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED ULFA BOMB KILLS 5 IN ASSAM AND INJURES 70
1. (U) On Sunday June 29, suspected United Liberation Front of
Assam (ULFA) militants triggered an explosion at the weekly
market in Assam's Baksa district near the Bhutan border, killing
five persons, including three women. About 70 persons were also
injured from the blast. The bomb was planted on a bicycle.
Immediately after the blast, Assam Police also defused another
bomb planted in the same area. Although the ULFA have denied
their involvement in the bombing to the media, the Assam Police
suspect the handiwork of ULFA's "709 battalion," which along
with Bodo militants, has a significant presence in the area.
The explosion has occurred on the heels of the unilateral
ceasefire declared on June 25 by the ULFA's 28th battalion 'A'
and 'C' Companies (septel). In all, ULFA has seven battalions
of varying size in Assam.
2. (SBU) Director General of Police of Assam R.N. Mathur
informed Post that the bomb is likely the handiwork of ULFA's
709 battalion, which could also be a reflection of the groups
frustration over the split that has surfaced with the 28th
battalion's partial ceasefire. The Baksa area, inhabited
predominately by Bodos and tea estate tribes, has been tense and
the unified command of the Assam Police, the Central
Paramilitary forces and the Army had already mounted increased
patrols in the region.
3. (SBU) Assam Police sources informed Post that following the
blast, security arrangements have been beefed-up further in the
area and also along the entire stretch of the Indo-Bhutan border
in the district. Media sources added that as a result of the
blast, which claimed the lives of five tea-tribe laborers,
organization like the All Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association
(AATTSA),have urged the Assam government to provide enhanced
security in all the tea tribes-dominated areas. General
Secretary of AATTSA P. L. Das told the press that "Already the
tea industry is languishing and its workers are facing enormous
problem, and such ruthless attacks would aggravate the scenario
in Assam."
4. (SBU) Comment: The suspicion that this recent bomb attack
has been orchestrated by the ULFA militants of the 709 battalion
indicates that not all of ULFA's units have accepted the
ceasefire with the Assam government. ULFA has informed the
Assam government that their demand for "sovereignty" persists
regardless of the unilateral ceasefire by some of its units on
June 25. The fragmentation of ULFA means that ethnic violence
will continue in Assam even as positive results have been
achieved in bringing some miltants to the peace table.
JARDINE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER MARR ASEC KCRM PGOV IN BT
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED ULFA BOMB KILLS 5 IN ASSAM AND INJURES 70
1. (U) On Sunday June 29, suspected United Liberation Front of
Assam (ULFA) militants triggered an explosion at the weekly
market in Assam's Baksa district near the Bhutan border, killing
five persons, including three women. About 70 persons were also
injured from the blast. The bomb was planted on a bicycle.
Immediately after the blast, Assam Police also defused another
bomb planted in the same area. Although the ULFA have denied
their involvement in the bombing to the media, the Assam Police
suspect the handiwork of ULFA's "709 battalion," which along
with Bodo militants, has a significant presence in the area.
The explosion has occurred on the heels of the unilateral
ceasefire declared on June 25 by the ULFA's 28th battalion 'A'
and 'C' Companies (septel). In all, ULFA has seven battalions
of varying size in Assam.
2. (SBU) Director General of Police of Assam R.N. Mathur
informed Post that the bomb is likely the handiwork of ULFA's
709 battalion, which could also be a reflection of the groups
frustration over the split that has surfaced with the 28th
battalion's partial ceasefire. The Baksa area, inhabited
predominately by Bodos and tea estate tribes, has been tense and
the unified command of the Assam Police, the Central
Paramilitary forces and the Army had already mounted increased
patrols in the region.
3. (SBU) Assam Police sources informed Post that following the
blast, security arrangements have been beefed-up further in the
area and also along the entire stretch of the Indo-Bhutan border
in the district. Media sources added that as a result of the
blast, which claimed the lives of five tea-tribe laborers,
organization like the All Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association
(AATTSA),have urged the Assam government to provide enhanced
security in all the tea tribes-dominated areas. General
Secretary of AATTSA P. L. Das told the press that "Already the
tea industry is languishing and its workers are facing enormous
problem, and such ruthless attacks would aggravate the scenario
in Assam."
4. (SBU) Comment: The suspicion that this recent bomb attack
has been orchestrated by the ULFA militants of the 709 battalion
indicates that not all of ULFA's units have accepted the
ceasefire with the Assam government. ULFA has informed the
Assam government that their demand for "sovereignty" persists
regardless of the unilateral ceasefire by some of its units on
June 25. The fragmentation of ULFA means that ethnic violence
will continue in Assam even as positive results have been
achieved in bringing some miltants to the peace table.
JARDINE