- Sources claim, ULFA (I)'s second major Self-style commander Nayan Asom and Self-style Colonel Pradeep Asom killed

Guwahati, 13 July (HS): Security forces have been reported to have carried out drone attacks on the camps of the Northeast's banned organization United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA-Independent), NSCN (K) and PLA in Myanmar. Initial reports indicate that among the alleged casualties, ULFA (I)'s second major Self-style commander Nayan Asom and Self-style Colonel Pradeep Asom have been killed.

ULFA (I) has claimed drone attacks on its camps on the Myanmar border. ULFA (I) has issued a press statement saying that several mobile camps were attacked by drones in the early hours.

Till last information, neither the Indian Defense Ministry nor the Myanmar authorities have issued any official statement on this attack. However, a central intelligence source told Hindusthan Samachar on condition of anonymity that in a major cross-border operation, the armed forces carried out around 100 drone strikes on four camps of militant organisations of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I), National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Khaplang faction (NSCN-K) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur, located in Sagaing region of Myanmar in the early hours of Sunday.

It is learned that this drone attack, carried out in coordination with the Myanmar Army, was carried out by the Indian Army early this morning targeting militant hideouts located in the Naga Autonomous Region (in Myanmar territory) along the India-Myanmar border. One of the main targets was ULFA-I Camp 779 in Waktham Basti. The source claimed that five cadres of the organisation were present in the camp at the time of the drone attack. However, the intelligence source did not confirm any injuries or deaths in the respective camp.

The source said that a separate, fierce attack was carried out on the ULFA-I 'Eastern Command Headquarters' (ECHQ) located at Hayat Basti in Sagaing area. Although the incident is yet to be officially confirmed, intelligence sources based on initial reports said that ULFA-I's top commander at ECHQ, 58-year-old Nayan Medhi alias Nayan Asom, was killed in the attack. Nayan Medhi (Nayan Asom) was a resident of the then Barpeta district (now Bajali) of Assam. Apart from this, several other ULFA-I activists, including Colonel Pradeep Asom, were also killed in the drone attack.

It is known that Nayan Asom is the latest in a series of attacks by ULFA-I after Paresh Barua. Nayan Asom is considered a key strategist and military trainer of the banned militant organization.

The source said that several nearby NSCN (K) camps have also been targeted in the drone attack. Though the exact figures are yet to be released, it is believed that several cadres of Naga and Manipur militant groups were killed. The source claimed that the Arakan camp was badly damaged in the drone attacks.

Security experts see these attacks as a new part of the Indian government's counter-terrorism strategy aimed at destroying safe havens of the Northeast terror groups operating across the border. The remote forests of Myanmar have long been used as strategic hideouts by the ULFA-I and other militant groups active in Assam and Nagaland.

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash