Out of the nine insurgent groups that are now active in Assam, the banned United Liberation Front of Asom has remained the biggest one by virtue of its cadre strength, according data compiled by Assam home department.
Notwithstanding the latest reverses it has suffered at the hands of security forces and because of the split that has appeared in its ranks with two crack companies declaring unilateral ceasefire, the ULFA still poses the greatest challenge to security forces in Assam.
The ULFA has the largest number of 1,175 cadres among the all nine militant outfits having a total cadre strength of over 2,275. A total of 332 militants from different groups are serving their terms in jails.
The other powerful militants groups include the United Liberation Front of Barak Valley with a cadre strengthen of 250, Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) has 240 cadres and Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front has 225 cadres.
Of the other militant groups, the Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Asom has 160 cadres, All Adivasi National Liberation Army has 90 cadres, Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) has 50, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen has 45 and Kuki Revolutionary Army has 40 cadres.
Among the militants lodged in jails in Assam, 249 are from the ULFA while the KLNLF and AANLA have 20 each and DHD has 17 cadres jailed.
Meanwhile, 14 cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, which is now in truce with the government of India, have been killed either by rivals or miscreants or in encounters with the security forces since ceasefire was formalised.
The Bodo militant group submitted its detailed charter of demands to the government of India on May 1, 2008. The charter of demands is now being examined by the government of India.
