THE USUAL SUSPECTS

Termed a terrorist outfit and banned by the Government of India in 1990, The United Liberation Front of Ason seeks to “liberate” Assam from India. It is associated with several separatist groups and is said to have ties with the ISI. Held responsible for several blasts in Assam, most recently in 2007, it is also known for extortion, assassinations and other criminal activities.

HuJI

The Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami is a fundamentalist organisation active in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India since the early 1990s. Banned in Bangladesh in 2005, it was declared a terrorist organisation by the United States in the late 1990s. Was suspected to be behind the 2008 serial blasts in India, including the latest spate of explosions in Assam.

ULFBV

The United Liberation Front of Barak Valley was formed in 2002 to help create a separate state for the tribes in Karimganj and Hailakandi. Has organised a series of strikes in both districts. Also has links with outfits in Bangladesh reportedly procures arms from there.

NDFB

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) is a separatist outfit seeking to obtain a sovereign Bodoland for the Bodo tribe of Assam. It has been engaged in fighting against the possession of their tribal land by Bengali settlers and the native Assamese. The outfit is suspected to be responsible for the killings of several civilians and security personnel, even after signing a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India in 2005.

KLNLF

The Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front blames security forces for human rights violations, especially in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Districts. Not currently engaged in overt conflict with other ethnic groups in the region. Maintains close links with ULFA.

KLO

The Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) was formed by the Koch- Rajbongsi tribe who live in four lower Assam districts, West Garo Hills of Meghalaya and in six districts of north Bengal. Intelligence sources reveal that the outfit was propped up by ULFA to use north Bengal as a transit point to cross over from Bhutan to Bangladesh.Associated with cases of abduction and murder.

Compiled by Rinita Singh