The political economy and changing

organisational dynamics of ULFA insurgency

in Assam.
• ULFA -: united liberation front of Assam.

• Ethnonationalism - ethnic nationalism due to

Assam’s multifarious cultures, art forms and
ethnic make up developed over time.
• A movement launched on 7 April 1979 at
Rangghar in sibsagar. This movement was
highly influenced by ULFA’s ethnonationalism.
 Organisation of ULFA- • ULFA’s beliefs rejected
-political wing the process by which
-military wing. Assam was integrated.
 Swadin Assam- ULFA’s
connotation that
symbolisis that group’s
philosophy of attaining
complete political
freedom.
 Regional party politics and armed
nationalism

• Assam accord (1985) - AASU signed the Assam

accord.
• AGP (Assam gana parishad.)
• ULFA displayed strong resistanceto AGP’s
cooperative agenda.
• ULFA enhanced its military training by accessing
to material supportand intense guerilla traning
through networks with national social council of
nagaland (NSCN).
 ULFA’s politically motivated killings.
• INDIA was unable to • Tankeshwar dihingia’s
impose regulation. assasination in sibsagar.
• ULFA got engaged in • Rajiv rajkhowa and
several several violent Ranjit barvah’s killing in
activities Johrat.
• All of them were from
congress.
How did people of Assam respond to ULFA’s
activities
• ULFA got active participants from small
minorities of civilians.
• ULFA assured civilians to fight against
corruption, drug dealing, etc.
• ULFA steadily lost its capacity to tempt
civilians through its short run tactics.
• Movement lost its character.
 State action and shift in character of
insurgency.
• ULFA’s insurgency • ULFA’s operating mode
constantly became acted as a double edged
lethal due to its violent sword
activities and bomb -to show indirect
explosions. defiance against govt.
-sustain the
organisation by spreading
fear an terror among
civilians.
 OPERATIONS
• First operation- central government’s
attempts to obliterate the ULFA but failed.
• Operation ‘Rhino’- conducted during
Hiteshwar sakia’s regime.
two things altered the cource of ULFA’s
insurgency -
-effective counter insurgency
-tactics adopted by the govt.
Operation flush out and operation all clear.

 Launched by royal • People’s consultative

Bhutanese army and group(PCG) of 11
Indian army to quash members were formed
ULFA’s military training by ULFA + security
base. forces.
 ULFA after receiving a • Talk finally ended in
major blow, still codebate.
continued
indiscriminate violence
against civilians.
• PCG’s failed attempts led to revival of violence
which continued throughout 2006,2007 and
2008.
• Where Assam witnessed a flurry of grenade
explosins.