Pre-Crisis Phase (August 6, 1967-April 6, 1979): The All Assam Students Union (AASU) was formally established in the state of Assam on August 8, 1967. The AASU opposed illegal immigration into the state of Assam from Bangladesh. Mahendra Mohan Choudhry of the Indian National Congress (INC) formed a government as Chief Minister in the state of Assam on November 6, 1970. The Bangladesh war of liberation in East Pakistan in 1971 resulted in some 10 million Bangladeshi refugees in the state of Assam, and some 1.3 million of the refugees remained in the state of Assam following the conflict. Sarat Chandra Sinha of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister on January 31, 1972. Elections were held in the state of Assam in February 1978, and the Janata Party (JP) won 53 out of 126 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The INC won 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Golap Borbora of the JP formed a government as Chief Minister in the state of Assam on March 12, 1978.
Crisis Phase (April 7, 1979-November 26, 1990): The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) headed by Paresh Baruah was established in support of the independence of the state of Assam on April 7, 1979. The AASU launched a statewide strike to protest illegal immigrants on June 8, 1979. The All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) was established on August 27, 1979. Jogendra Nath Hazarika of the JP formed a government as Chief Minister on September 9, 1979. The government of India imposed presidential rule in the state of Assam on December 12, 1979. The AASU held the first round of negotiations with the government beginning on February 2, 1980. Government troops were deployed in Assam state on March 28, 1980. Government policemen killed five individuals during a communal riot in Tinsukia on May 16, 1980. Presidential rule in the state of Assam ended on December 5, 1980. Anowara Taimur of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister on December 6, 1980. The government of India imposed presidential rule in the state of Assam on June 30, 1981. Presidential rule ended in the state of Assam on January 13, 1982. Kesab Chandra Gogoi of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister on January 13, 1982. The government of India imposed presidential rule in the state of Assam on March 19, 1982. Leaders of the AASU were arrested and jailed by the government on January 7, 1983. Government policemen killed five individuals in election-related violence in Bordoulguri and Jonaram on February 2, 1983. Government policemen killed four individuals in election-related violence in Tongla on February 5, 1983. Government policemen killed seven individuals in election-related violence in Belsar in Nalbari district on February 8, 1983. Government policemen killed seven individuals in election-related violence in Nalbari district on February 9, 1983. Elections were held in the state of Assam on February 14, 1983, and the INC won 91 out of 109 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The elections were boycotted by members of the AASU and AAGSP. Some 19 individuals were killed in election-related violence in the state of Assam on February 14, 1983. Some 2,191 Bangladeshi Muslims were killed by Lalung tribesmen in Nagoan district on February 18, 1983. Presidential rule ended in the state of Assam on February 27, 1983. Hiteswar Saikia of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister in the state of Assam on February 27, 1983. Representatives of the government, AASU, and AAGSP signed the Assam Accord in New Delhi on August 15, 1985, resulting in the end of the so-called “Assam Agitation”. The accord stated that individuals who had moved into Assam after January 1, 1966 would be considered foreigners and not entitled to the right to vote in the state for ten years. The accord also provided for new elections in the state of the Assam. Some 10,000 individuals were killed in political and ethnic violence between April 1979 and August 1985. Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia submitted his resignation on August 20, 1985. The Assam Peoples Association (Asom Gana Parishad – AGP) was established as a political party in the state of Assam on October 14, 1985. Elections were held in the State of Assam on December 16, 1985, and the AGP won 65 out of 126 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta of the AGP form a government as Chief Minister in the state of Assam on December 24, 1985.
Conflict Phase (November 27, 1990-September 3, 2011): Government troops launched Operation Bajrang against ULFA militants on November 27, 1990, and the government of India imposed presidential rule in the state of Assam on November 28, 1990. ULFA militants killed Manavendra Sharma, the Assam Congress Party (CP) general secretary, on February 22, 1991. The ULFA declared a unilateral ceasefire on March 4, 1991. The Indian government ended Operation Bajrang in April 1991. Elections were held in the state of Assam in June 1991, and the INC won 66 out of 126 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The AGP won 19 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Presidential rule ended in the state of Assam on June 30, 1991. Hiteswar Saikia of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister in the state of Assam on June 30, 1991. Government troops launched a military offensive (Operation Rhino) on September 15, 1991. Government troops killed Heerak Jyoti Mahanta, ULFA Deputy Commander, on December 31, 1991. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and ULFA militant leaders held negotiations beginning on January 12, 1992, and the government suspended Operation Rhino on January 13, 1992.. ULFA militants killed ten government policemen on April 11, 1992. Pradip Gogoi, vice-chairman of the ULFA, was arrested by government policemen on June 29, 1994. ULFA militants killed eight government policemen in Kamrup district on August 3, 1995. ULFA militants killed five government policemen and one civilian on November 23, 1995. The Sanjukta Mukti Fouj (SMF), a military wing of the ULFA, was established on March 16, 1996. Chief Minister Hitswar Saikia died on April 22, 1996, and Bhumidhar Barman of the INC formed a transitional government as Chief Minister on April 22, 1996. Elections were held in the state of Assam in May 1996, and the AGP won 59 out of 122 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The INC won 34 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta of the AGP formed a government as Chief Minister on May 15, 1996. ULFA militants killed 13 government policemen on August 19, 1996. ULFA militants killed two government policemen in a bombing in the town of Teok on November 29, 1997. ULFA militants exploded a bomb at the Guwahati railroad station on August 24, 1998, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. ULFA militants ambushed and killed seven individuals, including three government policemen, in Goalpara district on September 28, 1998. ULFA militants killed six government policemen and four civilians in Dhubri district on December 20, 1998. ULFA militants killed seven government policemen on May 11, 1999. Government policemen killed a ULFA commander, Babul Ingti, in the state of Assam on August 5, 1999. ULFA militants killed two government soldiers near Gohpur on August 11, 1999. ULFA militants and government police clashed in Borpukhuri on August 24, 1999, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. ULFA militants killed five government policemen in Hatchara in Barpeta district on October 3, 1999. ULFA militants killed a government minister and four other individuals in Nalbari district in the state of Assam on February 27, 2000. Government troops and ULFA militants clashed near Raha and Tangeri on February 27, 2000, resulting in the deaths of one government soldier and one militant. Government troops clashed with ULFA militants in the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on February 29, 2000, resulting in the deaths of at least nine ULFA militants. ULFA militants ambushed and killed six individuals in the state of Assam on March 5, 2000. Government troops clashed with ULFA militants in the state of Assam on March 21-23, 2000, resulting in the deaths of two government soldiers and five militants. Government security forces killed five ULFA militants, including senior commander Pradeep Gogoi, in Tinsukia district on May 8, 2000. Government policemen killed one ULFA militant near Pilibar in Jorhat district on May 26, 2000. ULFA militants ambushed and killed two government policemen near the town of Naharkatiya on June 22, 2000. Government troops killed four ULFA militants in Tinsukia district on August 18, 2000. ULFA militants killed at least 15 civilians in the districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia on October 23, 2000. ULFA militants killed nine civilians in Nalbari district on October 27, 2000. ULFA militants killed seven civilians in Nalbari and Tinsukia districts on November 25-28, 2000. ULFA militants killed 19 civilians in Bongaingaon district on November 30, 2000. ULFA militants killed 29 civilians in Nalbari and Tinsukia districts on December 3-7, 2000. ULFA militants killed three Bengalis on December 17-18, 2000. Government soldiers killed three ULFA militants in the districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia on December 28-29, 2000. Government policemen killed four ULFA militants in Khangbari and Soneswar on January 31, 2001. Government policemen killed three ULFA militants in Bongaigaon district on February 2, 2001. Government policemen killed six ULFA militants in the state of Meghalaya on February 22, 2001. Government police killed six ULFA militants in Goalpara district on March 15, 2001, and ULFA militants killed three civilians in Nalbari district on March 17, 2001. Government police killed three ULFA militants on March 30, 2001. ULFA militants killed three government paramilitary soldiers in Paneri in Darrang district on April 15, 2001. ULFA militants killed six supporters of the AGP in Nalbari district on May 4, 2001. Elections were held in the state of Assam on May 10, 2001, and the INC won 71 out of 126 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The AGP won 20 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Tarun Gogoi of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister on May 17, 2001. Government policemen killed three ULFA militants in Dhalajan Fatagaon on June 4, 2001. ULFA militants attacked a government police station in Goalpara district on June 7, 2001, resulting in the deaths of two government policemen. Government troops clashed with ULFA militants in Dibrugarh district on June 13, 2001, resulting in the deaths of ten government troops and three militants. ULFA militants killed two government policemen in Goalpara district on July 29, 2001. Government policemen killed three ULFA militants in Darrang district on August 5, 2001. Government troops and ULFA militants clashed near Kumarigaon on September 27, 2001, resulting in the deaths of two militants and one government soldier. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Dibrugarh district on October 20, 2001. Government policemen killed three ULFA militants in Nalbari district on October 22, 2001. Government police killed three ULFA militants near Bolajhar on November 23, 2001. Government troops killed three ULFA militants in Nalbari district on December 18, 2001. Government policemen killed three ULFA militants in Darrang district on December 20, 2001. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Kamrup district on December 23, 2001. Government policemen killed four ULFA militants near Agomani on January 20, 2002. Government policemen killed three ULFA militants in Kamrup district on January 31, 2002. Government policemen killed five ULFA militants in Tinsukia district on February 14, 2002. ULFA militants killed two civilians in Nalbari district on February 19, 2002. Government policemen killed five ULFA militants in Tinsukia district on February 20-24, 2002. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Sibasagar district on March 3, 2002. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants near Gossaigaon on March 7, 2002. Government policemen killed eight ULFA militants in the districts of Dhubri and Nalbari on March 19, 2002. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Nalbari district on April 7, 2002. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants near Barandhara on April 19, 2002. Government troops killed four ULFA militants in the districts of Nalbari and Sonitpur on May 8, 2002. Government troops killed three ULFA militants, including commander Dipak Das, in Nalbari district on July 28, 2002. Government security forces killed two ULFA militants in Guwahati on October 30, 2002. ULFA militants killed three individuals in the village of Rangjuli on March 8, 2003. ULFA militants killed eleven passengers in a bus bombing in the village of Bagangopa in Goalpara district on March 16, 2003. Government policemen killed four ULFA militants near Bongaigaon on April 5, 2003. Government troops clashed with ULFA militants in Darrang district on June 17, 2003, resulting in the deaths of one government soldier and three militants. Bhutan military forces launched a military offensive (Operation Flush Out) against ULFA and other Indian militants located within Bhutan on December 15, 2003. At least 90 ULFA militants and 35 Bhutan government soldiers were killed in the military offensive. Government policemen killed four ULFA militants in Dhubri district on March 4, 2004. ULFA militants killed six passengers in a bus bombing near the village of Mathurapur on June 24, 2004. At least 18 individuals, mostly women and children, were killed in a bombing in the town of Dhemaji on August 15, 2004. ULFA militants killed two individuals in a bus bombing in the town of Gossaigaon on August 26, 2004. ULFA militants killed three individuals, including one child, in a bus bombing in Goalpara district on August 26, 2004. On December 10, 2004, ULFA militants rejected an offer of negotiations by the Indian government. The Indian government extended an offer to negotiate with the ULFA in May 2005. Government troops and ULFA militants clashed in Nalbari district on June 19-20, 2005, resulting in the deaths of four militants and one government soldier. ULFA militants ambushed and killed one government soldier in the state of Assam on August 3, 2005. On September 8, 2005, the ULFA appointed an 11-member delegation, known as the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), to negotiate with the Indian government. Government troops killed twelve ULFA militants on September 13-14, 2005. On September 27, 2005, the Indian government announced that it had cancelled a counter-insurgency against ULFA militants. Government and ULFA representatives held three rounds of negotiations between October 25, 2005 and September 2006. ULFA militants ambushed and killed two government policemen in the state of Assam on January 22-23, 2006. Elections were held in the state of Assam on April 3 and April 10, 2006, and the INC won 53 out of 126 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The AGP won 24 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Tarun Gogoi of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister on May 14, 2006. Six individuals in a bombing in Guwahati on June 9, 2006. ULFA militants killed two individuals, including one government soldier, in the state of Assam on August 6-7, 2006. On August 14, 2006, the government announced a suspension of military hostilities against ULFA militants. On August 23, 2006, the government extended for another 15 days its suspension of military hostilities against ULFA militants. ULFA militants killed a government policeman in Dibrugarh district on September 22, 2006, and ULFA militants killed a tea estate manager in Tinsukia district on September 23, 2006. The Indian government resumed military operations against the ULFA on September 24, 2006. Government troops clashed with ULFA militants in Tinsukia district on September 24, 2006, resulting in the death of one militant. Government troops and ULFA militants clashed on November 3, 2006, resulting in the deaths of three militants. At least 15 individuals were killed in several bomb explosions in Guwahati on November 5, 2006. On November 11, 2006, ULFA militants bombed a state-owned natural gas pipeline, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals. At least three individuals were killed in a bombing in Guwahati on November 23, 2006. ULFA military killed some 60 Hindu-speaking migrants in the districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, and Sivasagar on January 5-8, 2007. Two individuals were killed in a bombing in Guwahati on January 18, 2007. ULFA militants killed at least two individuals in a bombing in Barpeta district on January 21, 2007. One individual was killed in a bombing in Guwahati on January 23, 2007. ULFA militants killed an INC politician, Chandra Chuta, in Dibrugarh district on January 24, 2007. ULFA militants killed six individuals in a bombing in Guwahati on March 15, 2007. Government troops clashed with ULFA militants in Udalguri district on April 2, 2007, resulting in the deaths of four militants. Government troops killed eight ULFA militants in the Lohit district of the state of Arunachal Pradesh on April 10, 2007. ULFA militants attacked and killed 20 Bengali migrants in Karbi Anglong district on August 8-10, 2007. At least six commanders of the ULFA declared an “indefinite ceasefire” with the government on June 24, 2008. Some 84 individuals were killed in ULFA bombings in the state of Assam, including the city of Guwahati, on October 30, 2008. The governments of Bangladesh and Russia, as well as the UN secretary-general, condemned the bombings and killing of innocent civilians. Six individuals were killed in ULFA bombings in the Guwahati on January 1, 2009. Nine individuals were killed in ULFA bombings in Guwahati on April 6, 2009. Six individuals were killed by the ULFA in bombings in the town of Nalbari on November 22, 2009. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Na-Kuchi in Kamrup district on January 10, 2010. Government troops clashed with ULFA militants in the village of Talpathar in Tinsukia district on January 13, 2010, resulting in the deaths of one government soldier and one militant. Government policemen clashed with ULFA militants in Kochgaon Tinthengia in Dibrugarh district on April 11, 2010, resulting in the deaths of one policeman. ULFA militants bombed a bus in Bhalukdubi in Goalpara district on July 30, 2010, resulting in the deaths of six government soldiers. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Naharkatiya in Tinsukia district on August 25, 2010. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Budlabetta in Tinsukia district on January 23, 2011. Government policemen clashed with ULFA militants in Tongona Majgaon in Tinsukia district on March 15, 2011, resulting in the deaths of one government policeman and two militants. Elections were held in the state of Assam on April 4 and April 11, 2011, and the INC won 78 out of 126 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 18 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Tarun Gogoi of the INC formed a government as Chief Minister on May 18, 2011. Government policemen killed one ULFA militant in Thalkuchi in Baksa district on June 4, 2011. ULFA militants killed one civilian in Tinsukia district on June 30, 2011. Representatives of the Indian government, state of Assam, and the ULFA signed a ceasefire agreement on September 3, 2011. Some 30,000 individuals, including 12,000 ULFA militants, were killed during the conflict.
Post-Conflict Phase (September 4, 2011-present): Government policemen attacked and killed three ULFA militants in the Namsai Reserve Forest in Lohit district on November 17, 2011. More than 650 ULFA militants surrendered to the government in Guwahati on January 24, 2012. Government troops killed one ULFA militant in Thakurvila on Goalpara district on March 3, 2012. Government policemen killed one ULFA militant in Kakopathar in Tinsukia district on April 1, 2012. Government policemen killed one ULFA militant in Medhikona in Goalpara district on April 8, 2012. Government policemen killed one ULFA militant in the village of Rangamati in Sivasagar district on May 30, 2012. ULFA militants killed a government soldier in Bamungopa in Goalpara district on July 31, 2012. Government policemen killed two ULFA militants in Goalpara district on August 5, 2012. Government policemen killed one ULFA militant in Khardang in Goalpara district on September 10, 2012. Government policemen killed on ULFA militant in Bordumsa in Tinsukia district on September 29, 2012. Government policemen killed on ULFA militant in the Tarani Reserve Forest in Tinsukia district on October 4, 2012. Government policemen clashed with ULFA militants in the village of Nazirapuriya in Dibrugarh district on October 28, 2012, resulting in the death of one individual. Government policemen killed one ULFA militant in Upper Tarabari in Kamrup district in November 18, 2012.
[Sources: Amnesty International (AI), January 4, 2001; Arnold et al., 1991, 136; Associated Press (AP), February 27, 2000, April 4, 2000, October 27, 2000, March 8, 2003, March 16, 2003; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), November 29, 1997, September 28, 1998, August 5, 1999, February 29, 2000, March 6, 2000, March 23, 2000, May 8, 2000, May 27, 2000, June 22, 2000, October 23, 2000, October 27, 2000, April 16, 2001, May 4, 2001, June 7, 2001, June 13, 2001, December 18, 2001, March 19, 2002, May 9, 2002, July 29, 2002, October 30, 2002, March 16, 2003, June 17, 2003, June 30, 2003, March 4, 2004, June 8, 2004, June 24, 2004, August 15, 2004, August 26, 2004, August 27, 2004, December 10, 2004, April 1, 2005, May 28, 2005, June 20, 2005, September 14, 2005, September 16, 2005, September 27, 2005, October 26, 2005, January 23, 2006, June 9, 2006, June 22, 2006, August 23, 2006, August 7, 2006, August 14, 2006, August 23, 2006, September 25, 2006, November 5, 2006, November 23, 2006, December 25, 2006, January 6, 2007, January 7, 2007, January 8, 2007, January 9, 2007, January 18, 2007, January 22, 2007, January 23, 2007, January 24, 2007, January 25, 2007, April 2, 2007, April 10, 2007, August 9, 2007, August 11, 2007, July 11, 2008; Reuters, August 11, 1999, August 24, 1999, October 3, 1999, February 27, 2000, April 4, 2000, May 2, 2000, May 27, 2000, September 15, 2000, October 27, 2000, November 26, 2000, December 6, 2000, December 18, 2000, December 29, 2000, February 3, 2001, February 22, 2001, March 18, 2001, May 4, 2001, February 14, 2002, March 16, 2003, April 5, 2003, June 24, 2008, October 30, 2008, November 4, 2008, April 6, 2009, November 22, 2009.]
Bibliography
Baruah, Sanjib. 1994. “The State and Separatist Militancy in Assam.” Asian Survey 34 (October): 863-877.
Deka, Arup Kumar. “ULFA & the Peace Process in Assam,” Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies Special Report 21, May 2006, New Delhi, India.