Guwahati: In a big blow to the proscribed outfit United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I), the group’s rebel and field commander, Uttam Lahon (alias Uday Asom), was killed in an encounter with police around 1:30 am Thursday, in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district.
Uday was one of the ULFA(I)’s field commanders and bore the rank of lieutenant colonel in the outfit.
The incident took place in the wooded hills of the Tipong Reserve Forest, around the Ledo-Margherita area, past midnight. According to police, the firing took place in Malu Gaon village near Ledo, under Margherita police station.
“A group of around 7-9 ULFA(I) cadres led by Udoy Asom and Mrigankha Asom were taking shelter in Margherita and Lekhapani area from past 8-10 days,” Tinsukia superintendent of police, Gaurav Abhijit Dilip, said in a statement Thursday.
Search operations continue, as a manhunt has been launched to nab the rest of the group members who managed to escape, said police. The entire area has been cordoned off by a joint team of police and army.
Police have recovered a rifle, two grenades and IED material from the deceased rebel’s possession, along with a backpack, a blanket and medicine, among other items, the statement added.
Around 2:43 am Thursday, Assam director general of police (DGP), G.P. Singh had tweeted, “Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.”
Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) February 8, 2023
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Who was Uday Asom?
Uttam Lahon was born in Purani Jaboka Gaon of Sonari subdivision, Charaideo district in Assam and was one of five brothers. He went by different aliases, Uday Asom, Uddhab, Hendalli, Kanihya and Topa, sources in the defence establishment told ThePrint.
Related to wanted senior ULFA leader, Ganesh Lahon (alias Purna Lahon), Uday Asom was listed in police records as an active ULFA cadre, involved in many cases of extortion in Upper Assam, said police sources.
He was promoted as the outfit’s revenue secretary, “primarily handling tax collections for the 779 or Arakan Gut (camp) of the outfit under its Eastern Command”, added defence sources.
Believed to be one of the important field commanders of ULFA (I)’s operations group, Uday Asom was allegedly involved in a crude grenade blast at Kakopathar in May 2017. He was last known to be operating from close to the Assam-Arunachal border in Namsai, running a network of linkmen for the outfit, according to defence sources.
Sources in the military claimed Uday Asom was also involved in an ambush on an army patrol party along the Pengeri-Bordumsa road, connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, on 14 November last year.
A former junior member of the outfit told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that Uday was a martial arts expert in Muay Thai (also referred to as Thai boxing), and sported a fish tattoo near his right ear. He was also a good orator and motivator, the former junior member added.
According to defence sources, there were reports of a tussle between him and another cadre, Rupom Asom, the latter being “a little more assertive”. Uday and Rupom were operating together in areas close to the border, sources added.
‘Complete loss of sympathy’
Former Assam DGP, Harekrishna Deka, told ThePrint that the biggest setback for ULFA (I) has been the complete loss of sympathy for it among the people of Assam.
“The north-east insurgent groups are surviving by mutual support and because of poor government vigilance along the very loosely administered Indo-Myanmar border. Also because of the clandestine arms market prevailing in the east,” Deka said.
On ULFA (I)’s dwindling support in Assam, and the government’s ongoing efforts of talks with the outfit’s commander-in-chief, Paresh Baruah, the former Assam DGP said, “It appears to me Paresh Baruah is aging and the strength of ULFA is dwindling. But he still has control of the outfit. He may be looking for a face-saving accord that may give him a feeling of success, but without real success.”
Deka added: “His one demand is sovereignty, which for the Centre is non-negotiable. He might have the feel of success if the subject of sovereignty comes as an agenda, and in course of academic discussion over it, the Centre gives an alternative proposal explaining why can’t it concede sovereignty.”
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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