28th Battalion (ULFA)
Encyclopedia
The 28th Battalion is the most potent strike group of ULFA, the banned terrorist outfit of Assam
. It is also called as the Kashmir Camp. It has its Head Quarter in Myanmar. It consists of three companies – Alpha (A) led by Moon Bora alias Jiten Dutta, Bravo (B) led by Sujit Moran and Charlie (C) led by Joon Sonowal. Mrinal Hazarika
was the commander of the battalion. The battalion was the outfit's main source of funding.
More than 200 cadres led by at least five of their top commanders came over-ground and christened themselves as "Pro-talk ULFA faction". They give up the demand for independence for Assam and instead seek maximum autonomy for the state. The 'A' company has been active in the eastern Tinsukia
and Dibrugarh
districts as well as in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh
. The 'C' company was active in Sibsagar
and Golaghat
districts. The B company seems to be outside the purview of the truce as its commander Sujit Moran distanced himself from the pro-ceasefire group. Meanwhile Mrinal Hazarika
made it clear that they will not surrender before the government and will be residing with arms in designated camps set up at Chapakhowa, Tinsukia
.
led a delegation of the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company to interact with leaders of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). An executive of AASU was said to have discussed the appeal of the pro-talk faction for support to their efforts to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on the outfit’s central leadership. On Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Nirjatan Birodhi Aikya Mancha organized a meeting at Sadiya
to back the unilateral truce declaration of the battalion.
is learnt to have disbanded the 'A' and 'C' companies of the battalion and reportedly issued threats to those compromising commanders, Mrinal Hazarika
(Commander of the battalion), Moon Bora alias Jiten Dutta ('A' company commander) and Joon Sonowal ('C' company commander). The outfit had expelled those leaders on Monday July 7, 2008, for “unauthorised declaration of unilateral truce and initiating the dialogue process with the Government of India in violation of the ULFA constitution.” Arabinda Rajkhowa
, the outfit’s chairman, appealed to all cadres of the outfit and people of Assam not to extend any cooperation to the expelled persons’ activities.
, Prabal Neog
and Jiten Dutta in a press meet in Guwahati
revealed that they had submitted the charter of demands containing 18 demands to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
through Assam's chief minister Tarun Gogoi. The demands include
initiated the first round of formal talks with the pro-talk faction of ULFA. Three top leaders of the pro-talk faction -- Mrinal Hazarika
, Prabal Neog
ang Jiten Dutta participated in an hour-long meeting with Assistant Director of Intelligence Bureau
R. N. Ravi, held in a secret location somewhere in Guwahati
. They once again reiterated their demands and urged the official to take steps for furthering the peace process. They claimed the meeting to be ended on a very positive note.
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. It is also called as the Kashmir Camp. It has its Head Quarter in Myanmar. It consists of three companies – Alpha (A) led by Moon Bora alias Jiten Dutta, Bravo (B) led by Sujit Moran and Charlie (C) led by Joon Sonowal. Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam. He was instrumental in leading the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the battalion to announce a ceasefire....
was the commander of the battalion. The battalion was the outfit's main source of funding.
Ceasefire
On Tuesday, June 24, 2008, the A and C company of the battalion announced a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate peace talks with the government.More than 200 cadres led by at least five of their top commanders came over-ground and christened themselves as "Pro-talk ULFA faction". They give up the demand for independence for Assam and instead seek maximum autonomy for the state. The 'A' company has been active in the eastern Tinsukia
Tinsukia
Tinsukia is a city and a municipal board in Tinsukia district, Assam, India.Tinsukia is a business city in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated north east of Guwahati and kilometres away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of...
and Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh is the headquarters of Dibrugarh district, Assam, India, and is the second largest city in Assam after Guwahati. It is situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, about north-east of Guwahati. It is the gateway to the three tea-producing districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, and Sibsagar...
districts as well as in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
. The 'C' company was active in Sibsagar
Sibsagar
Sivasagar is a town in the Sibsagar district in the state of Assam in India, about north east of Guwahati....
and Golaghat
Golaghat
Golaghat , which was one of the largest subdivisions of Assam later, elevated to the position of a full-fledged district of Assam on 15 August 1987, is the headquarters of Golaghat district and is a sister town to Jorhat which is about 55 km away....
districts. The B company seems to be outside the purview of the truce as its commander Sujit Moran distanced himself from the pro-ceasefire group. Meanwhile Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam. He was instrumental in leading the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the battalion to announce a ceasefire....
made it clear that they will not surrender before the government and will be residing with arms in designated camps set up at Chapakhowa, Tinsukia
Tinsukia
Tinsukia is a city and a municipal board in Tinsukia district, Assam, India.Tinsukia is a business city in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated north east of Guwahati and kilometres away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of...
.
Split in ULFA?
Although it looks like a split in the outfit, senior ULFA commander (pro-talk) Jiten Dutta said that the ULFA is not split and they would disclose everything as to why they had decided to declare the unilateral ceasefire. "Since most of the top leaders and cadres of the 'B' company are at bases abroad, they are not in a position to declare the truce," Dutta said.Appealing mass-support
After their announcement of ceasefire, the leaders started interacting with various organisations and individuals to mobilise support to their declaration of unilateral ceasefire and the peace process they had initiated. On Sunday, July 7, 2008, Mrinal HazarikaMrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam. He was instrumental in leading the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the battalion to announce a ceasefire....
led a delegation of the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company to interact with leaders of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). An executive of AASU was said to have discussed the appeal of the pro-talk faction for support to their efforts to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on the outfit’s central leadership. On Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Nirjatan Birodhi Aikya Mancha organized a meeting at Sadiya
Sadiya
Sadiya is a small town in the Tinsukia district of the North-eastern Indian state of Assam. It stands on a grassy plain, nearly surrounded by forested Himalayan mountains, on the right bank of what is locally considered the main stream of the Brahmaputra river...
to back the unilateral truce declaration of the battalion.
Expulsion of leaders
The ULFA C-in-C Paresh BaruahParesh Baruah
Paresh Barua is a rebel leader, born in 1957 at Jeraichakali Bhariagaon, Assam, India. He is the Acting Vice Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the rebel group ULFA....
is learnt to have disbanded the 'A' and 'C' companies of the battalion and reportedly issued threats to those compromising commanders, Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam. He was instrumental in leading the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the battalion to announce a ceasefire....
(Commander of the battalion), Moon Bora alias Jiten Dutta ('A' company commander) and Joon Sonowal ('C' company commander). The outfit had expelled those leaders on Monday July 7, 2008, for “unauthorised declaration of unilateral truce and initiating the dialogue process with the Government of India in violation of the ULFA constitution.” Arabinda Rajkhowa
Arabinda Rajkhowa
Arabinda Rajkhowa , , alias Mijanur Rahman Choudhury is the Chaiman of the banned outfit ULFA. He is one of the founder members of the outfit. He was also the Vice-President of the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front...
, the outfit’s chairman, appealed to all cadres of the outfit and people of Assam not to extend any cooperation to the expelled persons’ activities.
Merging of 'B' & 'C' company
The 'B' company is merged with the remaining cadres of the 'C' company who have not joined the pro-ceasefire group and Bijoy Chinese have been appointed as the new commander of the battalion.Submission of Charter of Demands
The pro-talk ULFA leaders Mrinal HazarikaMrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam. He was instrumental in leading the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the battalion to announce a ceasefire....
, Prabal Neog
Prabal Neog
Prabal Neog , aliases Benudhar Bora and Amar Moran, is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned terrorist outfit of Assam. He hails from Lesenga village at Makum in Tinsukia district of Assam. His wife Bonti Lahon, who is also said to be an ULFA cadre, hails from Moran in...
and Jiten Dutta in a press meet in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
revealed that they had submitted the charter of demands containing 18 demands to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
through Assam's chief minister Tarun Gogoi. The demands include
- Full autonomy within the framework of Indian constitution.
- a) To keep 70% of seats reserved for the indigenous people in Assam Legislative Assembly. b) To create an Upper House comprising indigenous and ethnic people.
- To seal the Indo-Bangla border to check illegal infiltration
- To detect and deport foreign nationals taking 25.03.1971 to be the cut off year as per memorandum of understanding between AASUAll Assam Students UnionAll Assam Students Union is a five-tier students' union in Assam, India.All Assam Students Union or AASU is a students' organization in Assam, India. It is best known for leading the six-year Assam Movement against alleged illegal immigrants from Bangladesh...
and Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. - To detect foreign nationals by preparing a revised national register of citizens of 1951.
- Detected foreign nationals to be kept in a special/specific area and to deport them phase wise.
- To introduce dual citizenship.
- To introduce the system of inter-state permit.
- To form a border commission to find solutions of border disputes of north-eastern states.
- To adopt a scientific approach to the flood related problems and to recognize floods of Assam to be a national calamity.
- Immediate steps should be taken to stop hydro-electric projects which will cause immense damage to the state of Assam.
- To open and develop Ledo Road to connect Assam with south-east Asia immediately.
- To have dialogue with all the insurgent groups of north-east to restore permanent peace in the region.
- To declare river Brahmaputra to be a national waterway.
- Necessary steps should be taken by the government of India to declare MajuliMajuli200px|thumb|Way To Majuli From [[Jorhat]] City Majuli or Majoli is a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, in the Indian state of Assam...
as a world heritage site. - A special task force constituted by recruiting the indigenous people of north-east and to deploy them in the indo-Bangla border to check infiltration and safeguard the border.
- To construct a seventh bridge across Brahmaputra to connect Nimatighat and MajuliMajuli200px|thumb|Way To Majuli From [[Jorhat]] City Majuli or Majoli is a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, in the Indian state of Assam...
. - Immediate release of the four central committee leaders of ULFA from jail.
Threat to go underground
Being disheartened at the delay in the talk-process, this pro-talk fraction on Monday, June 22, 2009, threatened to go back to the jungles blaming lack of any government initiative to begin peace talks. The pro-talk ULFA faction leader Jiten Dutta told IANS that after their announcement of ceasefire the entire upper Assam is in complete peace and not a single incident of violence took place in the past one year. He blamed the government and various pressure groups, individuals, organisations and intellectuals of Assam of paying no heed to their peace overtures.First round of talk
On Thursday, October 29, 2009, the Central governmentGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
initiated the first round of formal talks with the pro-talk faction of ULFA. Three top leaders of the pro-talk faction -- Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika
Mrinal Hazarika is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam. He was instrumental in leading the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the battalion to announce a ceasefire....
, Prabal Neog
Prabal Neog
Prabal Neog , aliases Benudhar Bora and Amar Moran, is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned terrorist outfit of Assam. He hails from Lesenga village at Makum in Tinsukia district of Assam. His wife Bonti Lahon, who is also said to be an ULFA cadre, hails from Moran in...
ang Jiten Dutta participated in an hour-long meeting with Assistant Director of Intelligence Bureau
Intelligence Bureau (India)
The Intelligence Bureau also known as IB is India's internal intelligence agency and reputedly the world's oldest intelligence agency. It was recast as the Central Intelligence Bureau in 1947 under the Ministry of Home Affairs...
R. N. Ravi, held in a secret location somewhere in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
. They once again reiterated their demands and urged the official to take steps for furthering the peace process. They claimed the meeting to be ended on a very positive note.