Ulfa-I, NSCN Factions Call for Independence Day Boycott in Assam, North-East
Security beefed up in vulnerable districts as insurgent groups urge total bandh on August 15
The Assam government has stepped up security across the state following calls from outlawed insurgent groups — the United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (Ulfa-I), led by Paresh Baruah, and the Wung Aung faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) — to boycott Independence Day celebrations.
In a joint statement, the groups described the celebration of India’s independence as meaningless for the indigenous people of Western South East Asia (WESEA), covering parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur. They alleged that both British colonial rulers and post-independence India subjected the region to “deceit, humiliation, exploitation and oppression.”
“The British imperialists exploited, repressed and deprived this region, and for the past 79 years, colonial India has maintained pervasive domination in the name of independence,” the statement claimed.
The insurgent factions announced a total bandh in WESEA on August 15, urging locals to support the protest. Despite annual boycott calls from Ulfa-I and NSCN, Independence Day celebrations usually see significant public participation.
Authorities have intensified security in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts — former Ulfa-I strongholds. Intelligence reports indicate that several youths in these areas, known as overground workers (OGWs) or linkmen, continue to provide logistical support to the outfits and may assist in executing attacks during national events.
The threat is not merely theoretical. In 2004, Ulfa orchestrated a bomb blast during an Independence Day parade at Dhemaji College, killing 18 people, mostly schoolchildren. Security agencies are now bracing for potential incidents.
A review meeting was held in Dibrugarh on August 8 to assess preparedness in the five most vulnerable districts.