Dibrugarh, Jan. 6: In the biggest arms haul in the history of the Northeast, troops of the 2 Mountain Division, in charge of counter-insurgency operations in Upper Assam and parts of Lower Assam, had recovered a huge cache of arms here in August and September 2002. Disclosing this to newspersons at the divisional headquarters of the 2 Mountain Division in Dinjan today, Maj. Gen. H.S. Batra, GOC, said, “The haul was a result of the offensive launched by the force in the region.” The arms hauled included eight Universal machine guns, 42 AK-56 rifles and a large quantity of small arms and ammunition. Most of these weapons had been stacked in underground caches and were preserved in polypacks containing oil inside Syntex tanks.
Batra said, “There are specific indications that the Ulfa is in a state of disarray and is suffering from low morale.”
The GOC also gave an account of the last year’s operations in which top-rung Ulfa leaders, “major” Tapan Baruah, “Lt.” Rakta Plaban Chetia, Ajay Rajkhowa and Biren Deori were eliminated. Several other militants, including Bonti Lahon, wife of self-styled major Prabal Neog, commanding officer, 28 battalion of Ulfa, had surrendered during the operations.
The GOC said the activities of the Ulfa had been “minimised but not eliminated entirely”.
“I urge the media to carry my appeal to the youth of Assam to shun the path of violence and militancy and to join the mainstream. There is need to recognise the selfish designs of those who propagate violence through the vulnerable youth while leading secure lives abroad,” Batra said.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the GOC said he hoped that the talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) leadership in New Delhi would encourage the Ulfa top brass to coming out for talks.