NEW DELHI: While the Indian security establishment is tight-lipped on the recent drone strikes claimed by Ulfa(Independent) on its camp in Myanmar, Assam DGP G P Singh on Wednesday said such attacks by “unknown elements” may serve as a wake-up call to the “boys and girls from Assam not to head to insurgent bases in Myanmar and, if already there, to come back home at the earliest for the sake of their own survival”.
Stating that capital punishment was handed to as many as 40 cadres by Ulfa(I), the anti-talks faction of the outfit led by Paresh Baruah, in Myanmar in the last three years, largely because they had shown an inclination to return to Assam and join the peace process, Singh told TOI that the drone strikes, irrespective of who carried them out, had only targeted insurgents “who are hurting the interest of and are working against the country (India)”.
Ulfa(I) – which reportedly comprises 200 cadres based in camps in Myanmar – had in a statement on Monday claimed that three bombs were dropped on one of its camps in Myanmar on Sunday, causing “minor injuries” to two cadres. The attack came days after the dominant faction of Ulfa led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa signed a tripartite memorandum of settlement with the Centre and Assam government, agreeing to give up arms and all forms of violence, vacate their camps and disband the outfit.
The Ulfa(I) statement claimed three bombs were dropped by drones at one camp at 4.10 pm, 4.12 pm and 4.20 pm on Sunday. “Two members of our organisation sustained minor injuries in the first two explosions. The third bomb didn’t explode,” it said, adding that “it is futile on the part of India to think that it can force us to deviate from our objective by such acts”.
However, the Assam DGP took this opportunity to issue an appeal on behalf of state government. “Assamese girls and boys should not risk their lives by going to Myanmar to live in Ulfa(I) camps there. As for the cadres who are already there, they should come back and join the mainstream. Assam government is willing to welcome them. Even their parents here should exert influence on them to return home as soon as possible,” he said.
The Baruah faction had dissociated from the peace negotiations initiated by the Centre and Assam government with the pro-talks Ulfa at the outset.
Stating that capital punishment was handed to as many as 40 cadres by Ulfa(I), the anti-talks faction of the outfit led by Paresh Baruah, in Myanmar in the last three years, largely because they had shown an inclination to return to Assam and join the peace process, Singh told TOI that the drone strikes, irrespective of who carried them out, had only targeted insurgents “who are hurting the interest of and are working against the country (India)”.
Ulfa(I) – which reportedly comprises 200 cadres based in camps in Myanmar – had in a statement on Monday claimed that three bombs were dropped on one of its camps in Myanmar on Sunday, causing “minor injuries” to two cadres. The attack came days after the dominant faction of Ulfa led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa signed a tripartite memorandum of settlement with the Centre and Assam government, agreeing to give up arms and all forms of violence, vacate their camps and disband the outfit.
The Ulfa(I) statement claimed three bombs were dropped by drones at one camp at 4.10 pm, 4.12 pm and 4.20 pm on Sunday. “Two members of our organisation sustained minor injuries in the first two explosions. The third bomb didn’t explode,” it said, adding that “it is futile on the part of India to think that it can force us to deviate from our objective by such acts”.
However, the Assam DGP took this opportunity to issue an appeal on behalf of state government. “Assamese girls and boys should not risk their lives by going to Myanmar to live in Ulfa(I) camps there. As for the cadres who are already there, they should come back and join the mainstream. Assam government is willing to welcome them. Even their parents here should exert influence on them to return home as soon as possible,” he said.
The Baruah faction had dissociated from the peace negotiations initiated by the Centre and Assam government with the pro-talks Ulfa at the outset.