Indian Army Denies Involvement Amid Rising Cross-Border Tensions
key highlight:
- Ulfa(I) claims 3 leaders killed in drone, missile strikes in Myanmar
- Indian Army said it had no knowledge of such operation
- Assam CM Sarma denied that forces played any role in the alleged attack
Three top leaders of the banned militant group United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), or ULFA-I, have reportedly been killed in airstrikes in Myanmar. The group has blamed the Indian Army for these attacks, but both the Army and Assam’s Chief Minister have denied any role.
The insurgent group, led by long-time fugitive Paresh Baruah, released multiple statements on Sunday claiming that their mobile camps in Myanmar’s Sagaing region were targeted in two separate aerial attacks between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. According to the group’s version, the first attack killed Nayan Asom (alias Nayan Medhi), the self-styled “Lieutenant General” and chairman of ULFA-I’s “lower council.” A subsequent strike, allegedly conducted during his funeral, reportedly killed two other high-ranking leaders — self-proclaimed Brigadier Ganesh Asom and Colonel Pradip Asom.
What is ULFA-I?
- Origins: ULFA was founded in 1979. In 2012, it split into factions. One faction engaged in peace talks with the Indian government. Paresh Baruah led the other faction, which became ULFA-I and continued the armed struggle.
- Status: The Indian government considers ULFA-I a terrorist organization, and it is banned.
- Operations: The group mainly operates from mobile camps in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, near the India-Myanmar border.
- Tactics: ULFA-I is involved in extortion, attacks on security forces, and armed insurgency.
Strikes in Myanmar: India Says ‘Not Us’
The group accused the Indian Army of using drones made in Israel and France, but defense officials point out that India does not use any French drones, raising doubts about the claim.
The Indian Army has strongly denied any involvement.
“There are no inputs with the Indian Army on such an operation,” said Defense PRO Colonel M.S. Rawat.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also stated that “There was no strike from Indian soil, and that the state police were not involved. The government is watching the situation but needs more information to confirm what happened.”
The reported strikes occurred near Longwa in Nagaland and Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh — both areas close to the India-Myanmar border. Myanmar’s authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
At this point, while ULFA-I claims that Indian forces attacked their camps, there is no independent confirmation. The official Indian position is that no such operation took place.
(Inputs – The Print & India Today)
