ULFA Ban Extended: Tribunal Affirms Unlawful Status in India

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) — The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), banned for 35 years, still maintains a significant presence in Myanmar, with approximately 200-250 members and around 200 weapons, the government reported to a judicial tribunal, which has now extended the ban on the group for another five years.

Presenting substantial evidence of ULFA's activities, the tribunal, led by Justice Michael Zothankhuma of the Gauhati High Court, confirmed on May 21 that there is a valid reason to classify ULFA and its offshoots as an "unlawful association" until at least November 27, 2024.

This tribunal was specifically established to assess whether ULFA and its affiliated groups and factions should continue to be labeled as unlawful.

Government representatives highlighted that ULFA, under Paresh Baruah's leadership, demands complete independence for Assam, intending to pursue this objective through armed conflict.

A notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that ULFA's primary operational base is in Myanmar, where it maintains four significant camps and collaborates with other Indian insurgent factions for logistical and tactical endeavors.

"ULFA harbors substantial manpower and armament, actively engaging in violent activities, including assaults on security personnel and orchestrating explosions. The group routinely boycotts national holidays in Assam, using these opportunities for disruptive acts like explosions," according to government submissions to the tribunal.

The Assam government has documented that within the past five years, 56 ULFA members, along with 177 associated individuals such as overground workers and sympathizers, were apprehended, and 63 members surrendered to authorities.

Furthermore, authorities recovered 26 firearms, 515 rounds of ammunition, nine grenades, and two improvised explosive devices during the same period.

Central government attorneys also provided details concerning the Assam government's submission, which included descriptions of ULFA's activities, registered legal cases, filed charges, and arrests of both ULFA members and their supporters.

The government reviewed 15 registered cases against ULFA, with three resulting in charges, illustrating their involvement in extortion, attempted murder, unauthorized armed possession, state conspiracy, and other illicit acts, according to the statement.

First declared illegal in 1990, the ULFA ban has been consistently renewed.

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