Multiple drone-strikes were reported against ULFA(I) militant camps in Myanmar, in the early hours of Sunday, between 2 AM and 4 AM. The militant outfit claims that the strikes killed one of their top commanders, Nayan Medhi, who also went by the alias Nayan Asom. Two other senior ULFA(I) leaders were allegedly killed in a second, missile strike. The second strike allegedly took place during the last rites of Nayan Medhi. ULFA(I) has blamed the attacks on the Indian Army.
Indian state media reported that the army has denied any involvement in the strikes. The Defence Public Relations Officer for Guwahati, Colonel MS Rawat, said that there were “no inputs with the Indian Army on such an operation”. Despite this denial, ULFA(I) has sworn revenge.
ULFA(I) stands for the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent). It is a militant group that is banned by the Indian government. ULFA(I) is the only active militant outfit in the Indian state of Assam. The faction spun off from the original ULFA in 2011, when the group’s chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, agreed to hold talks with the Indian government. The anti-talks offshoot, ULFA(I), is led by Paresh Baruah, who goes by the alias Paresh Asom.
ULFA(I) claims its camps, located between Longwa in Nagaland and Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, were targeted during Sunday’s strikes. This included their Eastern Command Headquarters, which was led by Nayan Medhi.
The militant bases are located across the Indian border, in Myanmar. Armed groups have been operating out of densely forested regions in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region for decades. Other than ULFA(I), the region is known to host bases belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, and the People's Liberation Army of Manipur. Reports say that both these groups were also targeted during Sunday's drone strikes.
ULFA(I) claims that at least 150 drones, including ones made in Israel and France, were used to bomb multiple militant camps. This is the second time that ULFA(I) claims to have been targeted by Indian army drones. It had also accused the Indian army of conducting a drone operation back in January 2024. Then, as now, the Indian army had denied any involvement
ULFA(I) has conducted multiple attacks between the two drone operations. On India’s Independence Day last year, ULFA(I) claimed to have planted 24 bombs across Assam. However, none of the bombs ended up exploding. ULFA(I) blamed the failure on “technical issues”. ULFA(I) also claimed responsibility for blasts that took place in Assam on January 26 this year. January 26 is India’s Republic Day. Will Sunday's attack on ULFA(I) camps lead to another spate of attacks by the militant group?
