The banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) outfit on Sunday alleged that the Indian Army carried out drone strikes on its camps along the Myanmar border. In a statement, the group claimed the attacks occurred early in the morning at multiple mobile camps, killing a senior leader and injuring 19 others.
The Indian Army has denied any knowledge of such operations. “There are no inputs with the Indian Army of such an operation,” Lt Col Mahendra Rawat told PTI.
According to a Hindustan Times report, ULFA-I alleged in a statement that “Indian occupational forces” carried out drone strikes on several of its camps along the Myanmar border, from Longwa in Nagaland to Pangsai Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, between 2 am and 4 am on Sunday. The group claimed that over 150 drones, reportedly manufactured in Israel and France, were used in the attack.
The HT report further stated that ULFA-I issued a second statement claiming that two more of its leaders, Brigadier Ganesh Asom and Colonel Pradip Asom, were killed in a follow-up missile strike.
The group alleged that the attack occurred while the last rites of Lt Gen Nayan Asom were underway. “Missile strikes were launched during the funeral, resulting in the martyrdom of Ganesh Asom and Pradip Asom, and injuries to several officers, cadres, and civilians,” the report quoted the statement.
The Paresh Baruah-led ULFA-I, which maintains camps in Myanmar, has reportedly vowed to retaliate. Unlike the pro-talks faction, ULFA-I insists on including sovereignty for Assam in any negotiations.