Assam state fears surge in violence as India ends truce

INDIA: Hopes for an end to nearly three decades of bloody insurgency in Indias remote northeast have dimmed after New Delhi at the weekend called off a ceasefire and resumed army operations against a dominant separatist group.

The federal government revived its military crackdown against the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Assam state by calling off a six-week old truce, blaming the rebels for fresh attacks. Clashes erupted almost immediately between the ULFA and Indian soldiers, leaving one guerrilla dead in eastern Assam Monday.

Another rebel died and five soldiers were injured in an encounter Sunday in the same area, 540 kilometres (335 miles) east of Assams main city of Guwahati.

Officials said the military was zeroing in on ULFA strongholds.

"Operations are on full steam with the army going about its missions in coordination with civil and police officials," said Absar Hazarika, administrator of insurgency-wracked Tinsukia district.

The renewed offensive has sparked fears of a surge in violence in resource-rich Assam.

"This is very unfortunate and there is no doubt the peace process has suffered a major setback," said Sammujjal Bhattacharyya, leader of the powerful All Assam Students Union. New Delhi's announcement of a unilateral ceasefire against the ULFA for an initial period of 10 days had rekindled hopes of peace in the frontier state.

A week later, the ULFA responded to the government gesture by announcing the cessation of hostilities for an indefinite period.

During the subsequent lull, the local Peoples Consultative Group (PCG), a group of 11 civil society leaders, met with state negotiators to facilitate direct talks with the rebel leadership.

But the rebels shattered the truce at the weekend with the murder of a policeman and a plantation manager after they separately refused to meet extortion demands, prompting New Delhi to call off the ceasefire.

"The central government called off the truce as the ULFA stepped up attacks and extortion demands," said Assam's chief civilian administrator, S.K. Kabilan.

Ordinary people now fear a return to violence.

"The ULFA should not have indulged in violent acts when the ceasefire was on and by doing so, they have hurt the wishes of the people of Assam who were craving peace," said retired police official Arun Madhab Sharma.

"Now Assam will be in turmoil once again," he said.

PCG representatives say they would appeal to both the rebels and New Delhi for restraint.

"This is a very difficult phase but I would still appeal to both the ULFA and the government to be calm and not indulge in such things that could derail the peace process," prominent PCG member Indira Goswami said.

At least 30 rebel armies operate in northeast India with demands ranging from greater autonomy to secession in conflicts that have left more than 50,000 people dead since independence from Britain in 1947.

"Now that the army has resumed operations and the ceasefire is called off, the ULFA on their part would also step up attacks to make its presence felt, said analyst Atanu Bhuyan.

"And so the state is poised to witness a fresh spurt in violence."

Guwahati, Tuesday, AFP