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Army chokes ULFA supply lines to Myanmar

April 13, 2007 15:31 IST

The United Liberation Front of Asom cadres based in Myanmar jungle are staring at a very tough time during the coming monsoon (rainy season), thanks to Indian Army that is keeping constant vigil on the two known supply lines of essentials and medicines to ULFA camps in Myanmar from Assam via Arunachal Pradesh.

According to a security source, the two supply routes are from Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Upper Assam Assam to Myanmar via Arunachal Pradesh and the other route is from Sonari -Sapekhati in Sivasagar district Assam to Myanmar via Arunachal Pradesh.

Every year, the ULFA supplies essentials and medicines to its Myanmar based camps just before on set of the monsoon during which it becomes impossible to pass through the thickly forested routes to Myanmar through the so called `ULFA haven' amid Arunachal Pradesh hills. The medicines are very essential given that the area in Myanmar where they are based is highly prone to malaria.

The ULFA usually adopts some villages in poverty-struck areas western Myanmar by providing rations and medicines to poor villagers in lieu of their help in respect of carrying loads and providing strategic inputs.

However, this year the army have maintained constant vigil over the two vital supply lines to ULFA bases in Myanmar putting the outfit cadres holed up in Myanmar in a spot. The army also mounted vigil on Lohit river course in Arunachal Pradesh that is also used by the ULFA for movement of its men and materials. It may be mentioned that Thursday's Army operation that resulted in death of 8 ULFA cadres was carried out on the bank of Lohit river.

The security force believes that its strategy to disrupt the supply lines to ULFA camps in Myanmar would pay rich dividends as hit by shortage of essentials and medicines, the ULFA cadres will not be left with much options but to surrender to escape the onslaught of monsoon inside thick hostile jungles.

It is feared that the ULFA would mount its attacks in urban areas of Assam including the state's capital city here to divert attention of the Army. However, the Army is no longer interested in altering its strategy and focus on its operations in urban areas which can well be taken care of by police and paramilitary forces.

To distract the Army from the focus of the 'ULFA haven', the banned outfit has been almost regularly triggering blasts in urban and semi-urban areas in the state. The militant group enginnered an explosion at Rupaisiding under Doomdooma police station of Tinsukia district of Thursday night injuring at least seven persons.

K Anurag in Guwahati