Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma denies any drone attack by state forces on ULFA-I camps in Myanmar. ULFA-I claims 19 militants killed, but Indian Army refutes involvement. The situation remains unclear amid ongoing intelligence monitoring and militant group setbacks.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday firmly denied any involvement of the state police in a reported drone attack on camps of the banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I). Speaking to the media, Sarma said, “Assam Police is not involved in this incident. There has been no strike from the soil of Assam.”
Sarma further emphasized the importance of verified information, noting that neither the state nor the central defence establishment has confirmed such an operation. “We need more details on the matter. If such an operation has indeed occurred, the Indian Army will issue an official statement. As of now, there has been no communication from the defence establishment,” he added.
The Chief Minister stated that the state government is monitoring the situation and is expecting updates from official sources later in the day. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has issued a denial regarding any such drone attack on ULFA-I camps located in Myanmar.
The outlawed ULFA-I, in a press release on Sunday, claimed that its Eastern headquarters in Myanmar was targeted by Indian Army drones in the early hours, resulting in the death of 19 cadres and injuries to another 19. The group also claimed that senior commander Nayan Medhi was among those killed, along with some insurgents from Manipuri groups like the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur.
However, Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, PRO Defence Guwahati, dismissed these claims. Speaking to IANS, he stated, “There are no inputs with the Indian Army on such an operation.”
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Sources have noted that ULFA-I leader Paresh Baruah, believed to be in the China-Myanmar-India border region near Arunachal Pradesh and having strong ties with Pakistan’s ISI, is currently at his weakest point in his decades-long militant career. The group has also suffered recent setbacks, including the May arrest of senior commander Rupom Asom and now having only one key leader, Arunodoy Dohotiya, operating from Myanmar.
