Reports Say India Struck Insurgent Group ULFA-I Camps In Cross-Border Drone Strikes In Myanmar; Indian Army Denies

The banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-i) on Sunday (13 July) claimed that at least three of its senior leaders were killed in drone strikes allegedly carried out by the Indian Army on one of its camps inside Myanmar.

However, the Indian Army officials have reportedly denied any knowledge of such cross-border operation.

According to the banned insurgent group’s statement cited in a report by Hindustan Times, the strikes by Indian forces occurred between 2 am and 4 am on Sunday, targeting its camps stretching from Longwa in Nagaland to Pangsai Pass in Arunachal Pradesh.

The group claimed over 150 drones—allegedly of Israeli and French origin—were used in the strikes, resulting in the death of its ‘lieutenant general’ Nayan Medhi, also known as Nayan Asom, and injuries to 19 others.

A second statement by ULFA-I claimed that two other leaders, ‘brigadier’ Ganesh Asom and ‘colonel’ Pradip Asom, died in a later missile strike.

“While the last rites of Nayan Asom were being carried out, missile attacks were carried out in which Ganesh Asom and Pradip Asom became martyrs and several officers, cadres and civilians sustained injuries,” the statement issued on Sunday by a self-styled second lieutenant Ishan Asom, as quoted by HT.

The group alleged that Indian Army operations across the Myanmar border were ongoing as of Sunday morning and vowed retaliation for the action on its camps.

The claims and statements by ULFA-I could not be independently verified.

However, in an official statement, the India Army has denied these claims.

"There are no inputs with the Indian Army on such an operation," Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, PRO Defence Guwahati, was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.

According to the HT report, another officer posted in Nagaland also stated that no inputs were available.

That drone strikes by the Indian Army targeted camps of NSCN-K and the PLA inside Myanmar, with some camps reportedly affected during the operation, HT reported citing people familiar with the matter.

There is no official confirmation so far on any casualties from either NSCN-K or PLA.

This marks the second instance in over a year where ULFA-I has accused Indian forces of cross-border drone strikes.

On 8 January last year, the outfit alleged a similar strike that injured two of its cadres.

Headed by Paresh Baruah, ULFA-I operates multiple camps in Myanmar and remains opposed to any peace talks unless the issue of a sovereign Assam is included—setting it apart from the pro-talks faction.

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