Latest news with #Ulfa
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bullet isn't the point
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. Assam's move to liberalise arms licences in some state areas can turn seriously wrong. It should scrap the policy Assam cabinet's decision to approve a special scheme to grant arms licences to 'original inhabitants' and 'indigenous citizens' in vulnerable areas of the state has rightly raised eyebrows. The last thing the Northeast needs is more guns. After years of painstaking security operations and negotiations leading to more than 10,000 militants across the region laying down their arms, giving guns back to the people defeats security objectives. It also undermines the narrative of normalisation that was taking hold in the Northeast. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says it is meant to deter threats and enhance personal security among indigenous communities in areas like Dhubri, Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, South Salmara-Mankachar and Goalpara. He also cites recent developments in Bangladesh. But this would mean that Assam police and other security forces in the state haven't been able to ensure law and order. Second, Assam has a terrible history of insurgency-induced lawlessness. Kidnappings, extortion and targeted killings were rampant during the height of Ulfa terror. What if the new liberal gun licence policy turns the clock back? As a state opposition leader said, govt can give gun licences but has no control over how those guns will be used. Third, in recent years, the Northeast has been talked up as a growth hub and a key pillar of India's Act East policy. But will investments flow to the region if an atmosphere of lawlessness prevails? Note that Morigaon – where the new gun licence policy will supposedly apply – is earmarked for a semiconductor plant. Will hundreds of supporting companies required for semiconductor manufacturing make a beeline if there's no confidence in local law and order? Himanta's critics say he is playing his political games with assembly polls due next year. Whatever his reasons, he should take back the gun policy. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ulfa's 250 cadres training in 4 Myanmar camps: Centre
Guwahati: A new report to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal reveals that the Paresh Baruah-led faction of Ulfa has an estimated cadre strength of around 250, primarily based in four major camps in Myanmar. The submission by the Centre, also echoed by the Assam govt, states that the outfit maintains links with other Indian insurgent groups for "operational and logistical purposes" and its cadres are believed to possess about 200 weapons at present. The govt's report highlights Ulfa's ties with insurgent groups such as NSCN, CorCom, NLFT, KYKL, and PLA, which are also based in Myanmar. The tribunal, presided over by Justice Michael Zothankhuma of the Gauhati high court, upheld the ministry of home affairs' (MHA) Nov 2024 order declaring Baruah's faction — Ulfa (Independent) — along with all its wings and front organisations, as unlawful for five years. Ulfa was first declared an unlawful organisation in Nov 1990, and this classification has been continuously extended since then. The other Ulfa faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa joined peace talks in 2011 and subsequently signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with the central and state govts on Dec 29, 2023. The anti-talk faction, led by Baruah, changed its nomenclature from Ulfa (anti-talk) to Ulfa (Independent) in April 2013. As per the constitution of Ulfa, one of the main objectives of the organisation is to achieve Assam's sovereignty through secession from India by armed revolution. The judge pointed out that such a claim for secession, as outlined in the organisation's constitution, comes within the scope and ambit of "unlawful activity", especially when the organisation has been found to have taken action towards it, by committing illegal acts, by words written, by signs and by visible representation. The Centre and Assam govts submitted that 89 cases have been registered against Ulfa, with 235 persons arrested. Between 2019 and 2024, two civilians and three Ulfa cadres were killed. Chargesheets have been filed in 21 of the 89 cases, while final reports have been submitted in 14. These cases involve bomb blasts, criminal conspiracy, extortion, arms recovery, Ulfa recruitment, and social media statements supporting the outfit. There are cases of Ulfaflag hoisting, dacoity, kidnapping, bomb recoveries, shootouts, ambushes on security personnel, and apprehensions of people attempting to join Ulfa. "The long and short of the evidence that has been adduced shows that Ulfa along with all its factions, wings and front organisations have initiated a violent campaign, with the object to secede the state of Assam from the Indian Union," the judge noted in his order. The tribunal order, notified by the MHA on Monday, observed that the govt has provided substantial proof of Ulfa's involvement in subversive activities across Assam, posing a severe threat to national security and integrity. The judge also noted that no representative from Ulfa appeared before the tribunal or provided any material to counter the govt's claims. "Hence, the evidence of the govt remains intact and the test of greater probability favours the govt. This Tribunal is of the view that the govt has produced considerable material before it, to confirm the declaration of the central govt that Ulfa is an unlawful association. This Tribunal thus finds that the materials produced by the state govt and on the basis of which the central govt declared Ulfa to be on unlawful association, is justified," the judge noted.
