In a significant development for Assam's ongoing efforts to curtail insurgency, a senior member of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (Ulfa-I), Arunodoi Dahotia, has surrendered. This event took place in a remote area of Arunachal Pradesh, near the India-Myanmar border, marking a crucial step towards peace in the region.
Known within the organization as Arunodoi Asom or Bijit Gogoi, Dahotia served as the finance secretary of Ulfa-I. Having joined the group in 2002, he became a trusted associate of its leader, Paresh Baruah. Over the years, Dahotia was involved in various operations in eastern Assam and faced several charges related to insurgency activities.
The National Investigation Agency has implicated Dahotia in numerous incidents, including the 2018 killing of Assam Police officer Bhaskar Kalita during an encounter in Tinsukia. Accusations against him also involve extortion and other armed activities, raising significant security concerns in the region.
Following Dahotia's surrender, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized that meaningful dialogue with Ulfa-I can only progress if Paresh Baruah, the group's leader, joins the peace talks. Currently, Dahotia remains in custody in Tinsukia, with plans to potentially move him to Guwahati for further procedures, though no transfer outside Assam is anticipated.
Ulfa-I has primarily operated near the India-Myanmar border, with Paresh Baruah as the central figure in any future peace negotiations. The last significant surrender from the group was by Drishti Rajkhowa in 2019. Ulfa-I originated in the 1980s, rooted in the demands of the Assam Movement.
Dahotia's decision to lay down arms follows other high-profile surrenders within the group, notably Drishti Rajkhowa, who commanded the outfit's 109th battalion. These developments suggest a weakening of Ulfa-I’s operational capabilities and offer renewed hope for resolving long-standing insurgency issues in Upper Assam.
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