ULFA(I) Militants Launch RPG Attack on Assam Police Camp in Tinsukia, Four Personnel Injured
In a brazen pre-dawn assault, militants belonging to the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) attacked an Assam Police Commando camp in Tinsukia district, leaving four security personnel injured. The incident occurred in the Jagun area around 2:30 AM on Sunday, escalating tensions ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections scheduled for April 9.
Details of the Militant Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The assailants fired multiple rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) shells at the police camp, with five of the launched projectiles exploding upon impact. Security forces stationed at the facility immediately retaliated, leading to a brief but intense exchange of gunfire. According to a senior police officer, the attack is suspected to have been carried out by a seven-member militant group, which managed to escape across the inter-state border into Arunachal Pradesh under the cover of darkness.
The injured security personnel were promptly evacuated and taken to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh for medical treatment. AMCH superintendent Dhruvajyoti Bhuyan confirmed that all four individuals are in stable condition and out of immediate danger, providing some relief amid the crisis.
ULFA(I) Claims Responsibility and Issues Warning
In a press statement, ULFA(I) claimed responsibility for the attack, dubbing it Operation Bujoni. The militant group asserted that the assault was a retaliatory measure against what it described as repeated aggressive actions by Assam Police and alleged drone attacks by the Indian Army on its camps along the India-Myanmar border in July of the previous year.
The statement further warned the state police force to refrain from subversive activities against the outfit, threatening additional retaliatory actions if their demands are not met. Interestingly, ULFA(I) noted that it had previously abstained from operations against state police as a gesture towards peace overtures from the Himanta Biswa Sarma government, which came into power in 2021. However, the group accused security agencies of targeting its leaders, cadres, and sympathizers, resulting in several fatalities.
Government Response and Counter-Operations
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly condemned the attack, labeling it as highly condemnable. He announced that counter-operations have been launched by Assam Police in coordination with the Indian Army, expressing confidence that those responsible will be apprehended swiftly. Sarma refrained from commenting directly on ULFA(I)'s claims, focusing instead on the ongoing security measures.
This militant strike occurs at a critical juncture, with Assam poised for Assembly elections in early April. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Northeast India and highlights the volatile environment in the region. Authorities are intensifying efforts to maintain law and order while investigating the full scope of the attack and pursuing the perpetrators across state borders.
