GUWAHATI, Jan 7 — Though the Government of Bhutan has officially informed the Indian Government about the action of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) of shifting four camps from the Himalayan Kingdom, the security agencies involved in the counter-insurgency operations in Assam are skeptical about the whole affair. Security sources pointed out that shifting of four camps would not serve any purpose as long as the militant outfits operating in Assam continue to have their bases in the neighbouring country. Moreover, though security measures along the Assam-Bhutan areas have been intensified, not much movement of the ultras has been noticed so far. Sources said that according to information available with the State Police department, the ULFA has atleast 30 small and big camps inside Bhutan, of which, some are merely transit camps, while, at least 15 are big camps. The general headquarter and the command headquarter of the ULFA are still in the Kawipani area of Bhutan. Under the circumstances shifting of four camps would not serve any purpose, sources pointed out. The NDFB also have bases in the neighbouring country, but the security agencies are not aware of the exact number of camps.
Security sources pointed out that as the Government of Bhutan is not in a position to use force to evict the militants from their territory, the militants would not like to give up their bases from where they can effectively control the lower Assam districts. The bases in Bhutan have put the ultras in an advantageous position as they can sneak into those bases after each operation within Assam to avoid the security forces. The Indian Army had trained up about 3,000 Bhutanese Army personnel in counter-insurgency operations and they were also provided with sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles, but so far, despite the resolution of the National Assembly of Bhutan, the Government of that country has not launched Army operations against the militants. According to information available with security agencies, some fresh recruits are still being trained in camps in Bhutan. On the reports of ULFA setting up camps in Assam-Meghalaya and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border areas, sources said, “we have such reports. But the leaders of the militant outfits, perhaps, do not want to put all their eggs in one basket.” Sources said that a move is on to post Border Security Force (BSF) personnel along the Assam-Bhutan border to check movement of the ultras.