Senior ULFA‑I cadre Anoljoy Asom surrenders to Tinsukia police

The police confirmed that Anoljoy Asom, described as a senior ULFA‑I cadre, surrendered voluntarily before officials in Tinsukia district on Monday, September 14. Sources say he had been living in the Yajong area of Myanmar for an extended period and had married a local woman during his stay.

Background on ULFA‑I’s Myanmar presence

Security officials have long noted that ULFA‑I maintains a significant foothold across the Indo‑Myanmar border. In a statement earlier this year, the Additional Director General of Police, L R Bishnoi, estimated that around two hundred ULFA‑I militants were based in Myanmar, alongside larger contingents of other insurgent groups.

“Chinese intelligences have been helping, directly or indirectly various insurgent groups of the north‑eastern region that have their bases and hideouts inside Myanmar… ULFA‑I leader Paresh Barua is among those top leaders who have been in regular touch with the Chinese liaison office in Ruili on the China‑Myanmar border.” – ADGP L R Bishnoi【S1】

Details of the surrender

• Police officials identified the surrendering individual as Anoljoy Asom, a senior ULFA‑I member.
• He was taken into custody for questioning to uncover his activities and any links with the ULFA‑I network.
• Authorities view the surrender as a positive step in ongoing efforts to persuade insurgent cadres to re‑enter mainstream society.

Both a Facebook post by The Sentinel and an Instagram update from a local media hub reported the same facts, confirming his presence in Myanmar’s Yajong area, his marriage to a Myanmar national, and his decision to lay down arms in Tinsukia.

Implications for the insurgency

The surrender comes at a time when security agencies have reported a series of arrests and defections among ULFA‑I operatives. Earlier in the year, two linkmen, Raktim Moran and Manab Moran, were arrested in Ledo, Tinsukia district for relaying information to ULFA‑I and involvement in illegal coal mining【S1】. In January, a senior ULFA‑I militant, Gagan Hazarika alias Joydeep Cheleng, was also apprehended by the NIA in Guwahati, with officials hoping the case would shed light on senior leaders such as Mukul Hazarika and Paresh Baruah【S1】.

Analysts suggest that the presence of ULFA‑I cadres in Myanmar has been strained by increased military pressure from both Indian and Myanmar forces, prompting several militants to seek return to Assam. The surrender of a senior figure like Anoljoy may signal a weakening of the group’s cross‑border operational capacity.

ULFA‑I remains a banned organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Its leader, Paresh Baruah, continues to be pursued by security forces, although he is alleged to operate from the border town of Ruili in China‑Myanmar territory.

Police have not disclosed whether any weapons or ammunition were recovered from Anoljoy at the time of his surrender. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have indicated that further details on his role within the insurgent hierarchy will be released after interrogation.