The situation seemed under control. Anup Chetia had joined hands with pro-peace talks Ulfa leader Arabinda Rajkhowa. Militant leader Paresh Barua from his hideout in the China border gave indications of surrendering to India. But the Ulfa was on the rampage again for the first time this year. Two jawans of the Assam Rifles were killed and three others injured when a group of heavily armed Ulfa and CorCom militants ambushed them near Jagun in Tinsukia close to the Arunachal Pradesh border. Two militants were also killed in retaliatory fire by security forces. Security forces then closed down NH 315 between Jagun and Lekhapuri in Assam to conduct combing operations. Over 1000 tourists were stranded at Nampong.
Nampong is 35 km from the Myanmar border beyond which the Ulfa, NSCN (K), NDFB(S) and several Manipuri insurgent groups are believed to have their bases. Assam police official sources said that the Paresh Barua faction of the Ulfa and Meitei militants under the umbrella group of CorCom had masterminded the attack. The Ulfa also acknowledged its responsibility for the ambush. All this rings alarm bells for the prospects of militancy ending in Assam. The new NDA government faces a crisis. Not only have the hopes raised by Barua’s conciliatory attitude been dashed to the ground but it seems the militant Ulfa faction has teamed up with Manipuri rebels. The long awaited peace talks between the Centre and the Ulfa has received a jolt. The NDA government’s preoccupations in Delhi appear to have put peace talks in the backburner.
