Three of the top officials of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), a proscribed terrorist organization, were slain in drone strikes on its camps in Myanmar, the group said.
Targeting several camps from the border near Longwa in Nagaland to Pangsai Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, the group, led by Paresh Baruah, claimed that the Indian Army was behind the attacks, which allegedly took place between two and four in the morning.
According to ULFA-I’s assertions, Lieutenant General Nayan Medhi (also known as Nayan Asom), the group’s lower council chairman, was killed in the initial attack. Brigadier Ganesh Asom and Colonel Pradip Asom were reportedly killed in a following missile attack during Nayan Asom’s death rituals. The group further asserted that these attacks, which used drones manufactured in France and Israel, killed 19 cadres in all and injured another 19. It is significant, though, that French drones are not known to be operated in India.
In its pronouncements, ULFA-I declared India to be the aggressor, accused the Indian Army of carrying out the operation, and promised vengeance. Regional and national media outlets extensively covered the group’s accusations, quoting ULFA-I spokespersons and press releases.
The Indian Army responded by vehemently denying any role in the purported operation. Colonel M.S. Rawat, the Defence Public Relations Officer, said, “There are no inputs with the Indian Army on such an operation.” Officers based in Guwahati and Nagaland also made similar denials. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, emphasized that additional information was required before making any judgments, but he also clarified that the Assam Police were not involved and that no operation was started from Indian territory.
Although there have been prior reports of clandestine activities along the India-Myanmar border, such as anti-insurgency measures by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, this particular occurrence has not been officially confirmed. Similar drone strikes may have also impacted the camps of other insurgent organizations, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and NSCN-K, according to reports, though these claims have not been confirmed.
Assam government officials and the Indian Army have vehemently denied any knowledge or involvement in the drone strikes that killed three prominent leaders in Myanmar, according to ULFA-I. Since the group’s accusations have not yet been independently verified, the situation is still uncertain.
