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28th Battalion (ULFA)
The 28th Battalion, also known as the Kashmir Camp for its ferocity,[1][2] was ULFA's dreaded and most potent strike unit, key to outfit's activities in the districts of Upper Assam.[3][4] The battalion headquarters were somewhere based in eastern Myanmar and was led by some of the better trained and motivated commanders.[5] At the time of decisive, it consisted of three companies – Alpha (A), led by Jiten Dutta alias Moon Bora, Bravo (B) led by Sujit Mohan[6] and Charlie (C), led by Jone Bhuyan(disputed). The battalion was the group's main source of funding.[2] Commanders
ArmouryThe cadres of 28 battalion were equipped with various sophisticated weapons including: Ak 56 rifles, M21 sniper rifles, Light machine guns, Universal machine guns, some Rpg's, and two inch mortars etc. Its one unit had a special bomb squad attached to it.[7] CeasefireOn Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 'A' and 'C' companies of the battalion announced a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate peace talks with the government.[1][2][8][9][10][11][12] More than 200 cadres led by at least five of their commanders came over-ground[11] and christened themselves the "Pro-talk ULFA faction".[11] They gave up the demand for independence for Assam and instead sought maximum autonomy for the state. 'A' company had been active in the eastern Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts as well as in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh. 'C' company was active in Sibsagar and Golaghat districts. 'B' company seemed to be outside the purview of the truce as its commander, Sujit Moran, distanced himself from the pro-ceasefire group.[1][10] Meanwhile, Mrinal Hazarika, made it clear that they would not surrender before the government and would be residing with arms in designated camps set-up at Chapakhowa, Tinsukia.[13] Split in ULFA?Although it looks like a split in the group, senior ULFA commander (pro-talk) Jiten Dutta, said that the ULFA was not split and they would disclose everything as to why they had decided to declare the unilateral ceasefire. "Since most of the top leaders and cadres of 'B' company are at bases abroad, they are not in a position to declare the truce," Dutta said.[1] Appealing mass-supportAfter their announcement of a ceasefire, the leaders began interacting with various organisations and individuals to mobilise support to their declaration of a unilateral ceasefire and the peace process they had initiated. On Sunday, July 7, 2008, Mrinal Hazarika, led a delegation of 'A' and 'C' companies to interact with leaders of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). An executive of AASU was said to have discussed the appeal of the pro-talk faction for support to their efforts to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on the unit's central leadership. On Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Nirjatan Birodhi Aikya Mancha organized a meeting at Sadiya to back the unilateral truce declaration by the battalion.[12] Expulsion of leaders
Arabinda Rajkhowa in a declaration e-mailed to newspapers and media houses.[12]
The ULFA C-in-C Paresh Baruah, is understood to have disbanded 'A' and 'C' companies of the battalion and reportedly issued threats to those compromising commanders,[10] Mrinal Hazarika (Commander of the battalion), Moon Bora, alias Jiten Dutta, ('A' company commander) and Joon Sonowal ('C' company commander). The group had expelled those leaders on Monday July 7, 2008, for "unauthorised declaration of unilateral truce and initiating the dialogue process with the Government of India in violation of the ULFA constitution." Arabinda Rajkhowa, the group's chairman, appealed to all cadres of the unit and the people of Assam not to extend any cooperation to the expelled persons’ activities.[12] Merging of 'B' and 'C' companies'B' company was merged with the remaining cadres of 'C' company who had not joined the pro-ceasefire group and Bijoy Chinese had been appointed as the new commander of the battalion.[10] Submission of DemandsThe pro-talk ULFA leaders Mrinal Hazarika, Prabal Neog and Jiten Dutta, in a press conference in Guwahati, revealed that they had submitted a charter containing 18 demands to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, through Assam's chief minister Tarun Gogoi. The demands include:[14]
Threat to go underground
Jiten Dutta as told to IANS [11]
Being disheartened at the delay in the talk-process, this pro-talk faction on Monday, June 22, 2009, threatened to go back to the jungle, blaming a lack of any government initiative to begin peace talks. The pro-talk ULFA faction leader Jiten Dutta told the Indian News Agency (IANS) that after their announcement of a ceasefire entire Assam was at peace and not a single incident of violence had taken place in the past year. He blamed the government and various pressure groups, individuals, organisations and intellectuals of Assam for paying no heed to their peace overtures.[11] First round of talksOn Thursday, October 29, 2009, the Central government initiated the first round of formal talks with the pro-talk faction of the ULFA. Three leaders of the pro-talk faction -- Mrinal Hazarika, Prabal Neog ang Jiten Dutta participated in an hour-long meeting with the assistant director of the Indian Intelligence Bureau, R. N. Ravi, held in a secret location somewhere in Guwahati. They once again reiterated their demands and urged the official to take steps for furthering the peace process. They claimed the meeting had ended on a very positive note. See alsoReferences
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