The report said security forces, including the Army and Central Paramilitary Forces, committed “blatant” human rights violations, while armed underground groups were responsible for “gross violation” of international humanitarian laws, with the common man being the worst victim of the crossfire.

“Armed groups were responsible for gross violations of international humanitarian laws, especially by targeting civilians through explosive devices. As per records of the state Government, as many as 191 persons were killed and 1,276 were injured in bomb blasts triggered by these groups in Assam between 2001 and 2006. As many as 1,536 civilians were killed in the armed conflict during the same period,” the ACHR report said.

The report particularly held militant groups—primarily the ULFA— responsible for the death of 1,214 people in Assam between May 2001 and May 2006. “Of these, 1,031 were civilians, 183 security forces personnel,” it said.

The report also quoted from the Union Home Ministry and said while 254 people were killed in 398 insurgency-related incidents in Assam during 2005, at least 242 persons were killed in 413 incidents during 2006. “The armed groups were responsible for indiscriminate killings of civilians,” the report said, listing at least 23 specific cases, which included death of a 10-year old child in a blast at a vegetable market in Guwahati to a tea estate manager in Upper Assam.

“Armed groups also carried out several kidnappings of civilians, often demanding ransom. Failure to meet their demands resulted in killing of the hostages,” the report said. Executive Director (NE) of Food Corporation of India PC Ram, who was kidnapped by the ULFA about a month-and-a-half ago from the heart of Guwahati, has still not been traced.

The underground groups have also been held responsible for numerous incidents of extortion, with the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) topping the list. “Besides abductions for ransom, armed groups were also responsible for extortion,” it said. The report pointed out that there were 27 cases lodged against NDFB cadre for extorting money even after signing of a ceasefire pact with the Government in June 2006.

The Asian Centre for Human Rights in its report also held ULFA cadre responsible for destruction of public property and infrastructure. “They especially targeted the oil installations of the state, blew up pipelines carrying natural gas and crude oil, as also railway tracks,” the report said.