A look at insurgent outfits active in Assam

Secession, autonomy, separate statehood, ST status are the demands with which sections of Assamese youth take up arms, ably assisted by external forces. The insurgent outfits active in Assam today boast a combined cadre strength of 760. ET takes a look at these outfits.

United Liberation Front of Asom ( ULFA)

ULFA suffered split after several top leaders joined peace parleys after their arrests in Bangladesh. Those against it rechristened themselves as ULFA (Independent). Paresh Baruah led ULFA (I) or anti-talk faction is fighting for independent Assam and secession from India.

National Democratic Front of Boroland ( NDFB)

It boasts the largest number of cadres. NDFB has suffered two splits. Two outfits one led by Gobinda Basumatary and other Ranjan Daimary is in talks with GoI. The breakaway group, Songbijit faction of NDFB, which orchestrated Tuesday's attack, is seeking a separate homeland of Bodoland carved out of Assam.

Kamatapur Liberation Organization ( KLO)

Active along the Assam-West Bengal border. Suffered massive reverses after the Indian Army operation in Bhutan in 2003. The outfit wants a separate state of Kamatapur.

Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (Multa)

Organisation espouses to fight for the cause of the Muslims of Assam.

Dormant Groups

There are over 10 militant groups that are inactive after ceasefire deals with the government.

Karbi Peoples Liberation Tiger (KPLT)

KPLT is opearating in and around Karbi Anglong. The outfit is fighting for creation of a self-ruled homeland for the Karbis in the Kabri Anglong and Dima Hasao districts.

Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (Assam unit)

Security agencies say the outfit has set up sleeper cells in Assam and 10 operatives are already in police custody in connection with October's Burdwan blast.

CPI (Maoists)

At least nine districts of the state are Maoist infested.