Nine militant groups active in Assam

Guwahati, Jul 18: Assam has nine militant outfits operating in the state, with total cadre strength of over 2000, while another 332 are lodged in jails.

The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is the most powerful with 1175 cadres.

The other powerful groups include the United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) with a cadre strengthen of 250, Dima Halom Daogah (Jewel) (DHD-J) with 240 and Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) with 225 cadres.

This was informed by Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain, on behalf of the chief minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, in reply to a short notice question in the state Assembly today.

Of the other insurgent groups, the Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Asom (MULTA) has 160 cadres, All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) 90, Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) (HPC-D) 50, Harkat-ul-Mujahiddin (HUM) 45 and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) 40 cadres.

Of the rebels currently in jail, the ULFA has 249 cadres behind the bars, while the KLNLF and AANLA have 20 each and DHD has 17 cadres jailed.

Meanwhile, in reply to separate questions, Mr Hussain informed that 14 cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), in ceasefire with the government, have been killed either by miscreants or in encounters with the security forces since truce was declared.

The ceasefire agreement was signed on June one, 2005, and several rounds of talks have been held since, with the group submitting its charter of demands on May one last, which the government was examing, the minister said.

UNI