Assam: Pengeri attack was ‘joint operation’ of 5 NE rebel groups, claims ULFA

A statement issued to media houses through e-mail by self-styled Captain Arunudoy Asom said the attack was carried out for the “common cause of liberation and to enhance the progress of the national movement” as also against their “common enemy India.” Describing it as a “successful” operation, he also claimed that apart from killing three army personnel the rebels could also snatch away one AK-47 and one Insas rifle.

The operation – which the statement mentioned as “Operation Barak” – was carried out jointly by cadres of the ULFA and CorCom (a platform of six Manipuri insurgent groups), the statement said. The group comprised of members of the ULFA (Independent) faction and CorCom, the latter having in its fold RPF, UNLF and two factions of the PRPK, all Manipuri outfits, it said. The ULFA(I) faction, the constituents of CorCom, NSCN(K) and NDFB had in 2014 formed a common umbrella called United National Liberation Front of WESEA, which is briefly called UNLFW.

The statement also said that the “joint command” of the operation, comprising MM Ngouba of CorCom and Paresh Barua of ULFA(I) hailed the group involved in the attack for their “bravery” and “successful operation.” While self-styled Major-General Paresh Barua is vice-chairman and “chief of army staff” of the ULFA(I) faction, Ngouba is “chairman” and “joint military commission” of CorCom, it said.

Rebels left behind 2 Chinese RPGs

While the ULFA faction claimed that the rebels had snatched away one AK-47 and one Insas rifle from the Army jawans after the ambush, Assam Police director-general Mukesh Sahay said the rebels on their part had left behind two rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) due to the counter-attack by the Army personnel.

“The Army jawans did put up a strong counter-attack, because of which the militants had to run away leaving behind at least two RPGs. Though the two Army vehicles came under heavy attack, the jawans too fired back, forcing them to flee, in the process leaving behind the two live RPGs,” Sahay told The Indian Express over telephone.

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Assam DGP who has been camping in Tinsukia after he rushed there following the Saturday morning ambush, also said that all weapons that the militants used were of Chinese make. “We also suspect that they used at least one UBGL, an under barrel grenade launcher, also made in China,” he added.

Sahay also said that while operations have been intensified in the entire area adjoining the place where the ambush took place, simultaneous operations have been launched in three districts of eastern Arunachal Pradesh that share inter-state boundary with Tinsukia. “There is every possibility of the militants trying to sneak out to Myanmar where they have their camps as well as leaders,” the DGP said.

ULFA wants new notes

DGP Sahay also said that demonetisation had severely hit the ULFA faction and other rebel groups of the region. “Whatever cash they had collected through extortion in the state had suddenly become obsolete. They have been trying to get hold of some people to get their old notes exchanged. In Sivasagar, one person was arrested on Saturday while trying to extort money on behalf of ULFA,” Sahay said.

Kishore Patel, cashier of a petrol pump at Demow in Sivasagar district was arrested for demanding Rs 4 lakh from Kamal Agarwala and Rajendra Agarwala, two local businessmen of Demow on Saturday. The two businessmen had earlier lodged an FIR at the local police station, on the basis of which Patel was caught redhanded while he was collecting Rs 50,000 from one of them.

“We have also asked the police in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh to keep a tab on whether people were depositing old currency notes worth more than Rs 2.5 lakh. Since tribal people of the hill states are exempted from income tax, there is every possibility of the ULFA to get their old currency notes exchanged in these states,” DGP Sahay said. The ULFA has been extorting money, though much less than before, and was using Whatsapp to send extortion notes to the people, he added.