At least three top leaders of the separatist rebel group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have been killed in a drone strike by the Indian Army on ULFA’s camp located in Myanmar, according to the group’s claim. The attack reportedly took place early Sunday morning.
Some rebel groups from northeastern India share ethnic, linguistic, and cultural ties with minorities living across the border in Myanmar. Several Indian insurgent groups are known to have bases in areas near the Myanmar border.
ULFA has issued multiple statements regarding the Indian military’s drone strike on their base in Myanmar. The group, which has been fighting for the independence of Assam state for decades, stated that in the first wave of drone strikes, one of their top commanders was killed and 19 others were injured.
In a second wave of attacks, ULFA claims that two more senior commanders were killed. The group also reported that several other ULFA members and some civilians were injured in the attack.
However, Indian authorities have not yet officially commented on or confirmed the attack.
ULFA further said that the drone strikes also targeted a camp of another rebel group, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which operates in pursuit of the independence of the Indian state of Manipur.
ULFA is one of several rebel groups that have long been carrying out separatist movements in India. While ULFA demands independence for Assam, the PLA is fighting for Manipur’s independence.
In 2023, a faction of ULFA signed a peace agreement with India’s ruling government and subsequently announced the surrender of their weapons.
In recent years, the number of insurgent attacks in northeastern Indian states has significantly declined. Nevertheless, over the past three decades, such violence has claimed thousands of lives in India, most of whom were civilians.
