NEW DELHI, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The Indian army has said it will crack down on the banned United Liberation Front of Assam until the group observes a cease-fire in Assam state.
The army says ULFA has used previous cease-fires to consolidate its organizational strength.
"The army is not for a unilateral cease-fire. Every time it is announced, ULFA has come back stronger. Only a true cease-fire, when all arms are surrendered and the ULFA cadres move into designated camps, can be accepted," said Gen B.S. Jaswal, a senior commanding officer of the Indian army.
Jaswal also heads counter-insurgency operations in Assam. He is opposed to a unilateral cease-fire.
"Any future cease-fire would be based on the terms of the government of India. The insurgents can’t be allowed to dictate terms from a position of strength and the army's tactics of iron fist with velvet glove has been paying dividends."
Jaswal said militants are under pressure and had been pushed to a corner following the loss of their top leadership recently.
”Our intelligence inputs and intercepted messages show that the militants are facing hardship. A large number of insurgents are down with malaria and are not getting good medical treatment,” Jaswal said.
He said there is also discontent and disillusionment after the arrest of ULFA chief Prabal Neog. Jaswal said the insurgent group has set up camps deep in Myanmar, adding the Indian army has succeeded in keeping the separatist group on the run.
