Assam: Attack on AR Convoy was ‘Joint Operation’ of 7 NE rebels, terms attack as ‘Operation Barak’

The attack on Assam Rifles Convoy on Sunday morning was a joint military operation of militant outfits operating in the region  — Operation Barak, claimed ULFA-I.

The operation – which the statement mentioned as “Operation Barak” – was carried out jointly by cadres of the ULFA and CorCom (a platform of six Manipuri insurgent groups), The group comprised of members of the ULFA (Independent) faction and CorCom, the latter having in its fold RPF, UNLF and two factions of the PRPK, all Manipuri outfits, it said. The ULFA(I) faction, the constituents of CorCom, NSCN(K) and NDFB had in 2014 formed a common umbrella called United National Liberation Front of WESEA, which is briefly called UNLFW.

Under this operation, a joint team attacked the 13 Assam Rifles vehicles  of Indian Security Forces at Jagun-Jairampur of Warabasti, Tinsukia district of Assam on Sunday morning which killed 3 jawans and injuring 4 others while also claiming to have recovered three weapons (2 AK Rifles and one INSAS rifle).

The joint team led by MM Ngouba, Chairman of JMC of CorCom and Paresh Asom, the chief of Army staff pof ULFA-I have termed this attack as ‘successful operation’.

It may be mentioned CorCom was behind the worst attack in 2016, on May 22, at least six personnel of 29 Assam Rifles (AR), including one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed, and another seven personnel were injured in an ambush laid by militants at Hengshi village, near the India-Myanmar border, in the Chakpikarong tehsil (revenue unit) of Chandel District. The militants had triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) before opening fire on the AR convoy, and they also looted four AK-47 rifles, one light machine gun, one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle and ammunition.

Meanwhile, sources informed that during the attack, one ULFA-I cadre was killed. 

Sources informed that today’s attack was the result of intelligence failure and the failure of Tinsukia SP otherwise considered gem of Assam police.