Base of Operation: India

Founding Philosophy: The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) is a terrorist organization operating in India’s Assam region. The group was formed on April 7, 1979 and remains active to this date. ULFA was formed with the dual goal of establishing Assam as a separate country, independent of India, while also establishing a socialist government to rule the “Assam country.” Over two decades after ULFA’s founding, Assam has neither broken away from India nor established a socialist government. This is not to say that ULFA has had no effect on the region in the last two decades.

While ULFA was formed in 1979, the group did not commence significant activities until 1986. In 1986, ULFA aggressively raised money via extortion and established relationships with two other non-state entities, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). Even more significantly, ULFA was able to gain some support within the ruling party in Assam, Assam Gana Parishad (AGP). ULFA even had supporters within the police departments of Assam. Because of ULFA’s increased visibility, the Indian government outlawed the group in 1986 and declared Assam a troubled area.

ULFA’s membership is predominantly from the Assam region, specifically the northern districts. There are other insurgent groups that have a stronger membership base in the southern areas of Assam. ULFA has forged working relationships with some of the other insurgent groups in the region.

Current Goals: From the early 1990s on, the United Liberation Front of Assam has continually increased its terrorist activities. The group assassinates political opponents, attacks police and other security forces, blasts railroad tracks, and attacks other infrastructure facilities. The Indian military undertook operations to counter ULFA’s terrorist attacks, leading to the arrests and deaths of hundreds of ULFA members. The government’s response, combined with backlash from Assam civilians regarding the increasingly violent actions of ULFA, reduced the group’s membership for a time. Still, the group is estimated at several thousand members and continued terrorist attacks are expected.

Source: MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base