The insurgent group has confirmed a major blow to its leadership following a precision drone attack widely attributed to Indian forces.
By Navin Upadhyay
July 14, 2025: The United Liberation Front of Asom–Independent (ULFA-I) has confirmed the deaths of three of its top commanders in a “missile” strike on its camps in Myanmar, in what appears to be one of the most significant blows to the outfit in recent years. The announcement, dated July 13, was issued by Lt. Ishan Assam, Assistant Secretary of the outfit’s Propaganda Department.
According to the group’s official statement, the attack occurred during the funeral of Lt. J. Nayan Assam, described as the President of ULFA-I’s Lower Council. The funeral, held at Hoyat Basti—the outfit’s Eastern Command headquarters in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region—was struck by missiles reportedly fired by “Veronia colonial forces,” a reference widely interpreted as the Indian Army.
The statement confirmed Nayan Assam’s death but it does not say whether he was killed in an earlier strike by the Indian forces. The strike killed two other high-ranking leaders: Brigadier Ganesh Assam, and Colonel Pradeep Assam.
READ: Indian Army Unleashes Deady Attacks on ULFA-I Camps in Myanmar, Kills Top Commander
The ULFA-I claims the attack was carried out by a fleet of nearly 100 drones, which also targeted the group’s 779 Camp at Waktham Basti, another long-established base of operations. Several other cadres and civilians were reportedly injured. The group has condemned the assault as “brutal and inhuman,” alleging that Indian forces have continued launching air strikes in the area since.
Indian Army officials have refused to comment on the reports, and Myanmar’s military regime has issued no response, deepening speculation about the scale of the operation and its intended targets.
⚡ BIG: ULFA-I confirms the attacks on its camps:
The ULFA(I), in a press statement, said the attacks were carried out by Indian Army with drones in the early hours at several mobile camps.
A senior leader of the proscribed outfit was killed in the attacks, while around 19… https://t.co/pd3q1ISOH4 pic.twitter.com/858pToV2bW
— OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) July 13, 2025
Nayan Asom, whose real name remains unknown, was widely regarded as the strategic architect of ULFA-I’s recent revival. Appointed a Lieutenant General in 2021, he held seats on both the outfit’s Supreme Council and High Council, overseeing training camps, operational planning, and military coordination with other insurgent groups, including the NSCN-K and PLA of Manipur. He is believed to have been operating from ULFA-I camps in the Sagaing and Kachin regions of Myanmar—areas that have become lawless since the 2021 military coup, allowing insurgent groups from India’s Northeast to regroup and expand their operations.
READ: Who Was ULFA’s Top Gun, Feared Killed in India’s Strike in Myanmar?
The statement, marked APDU/I/A0022/25, was circulated to the media with a plea for accurate reporting and included “revolutionary greetings” and a renewed call to the people of Assam to unite under the movement for independence. While confirming a major leadership loss, the declaration also hinted at retaliation, accusing the Indian state of barbaric aggression and escalating the conflict.
Nayan Asom’s death is a huge setback for ULFA-I, potentially creating a leadership vacuum at a time when the group is trying to rebuild its presence in Upper Assam. His death could also provoke a violent backlash or, conversely, trigger disillusionment among cadres, especially as India sharpens its cross-border counter-insurgency capabilities through precision drone warfare.
The strike marks a turning point in India’s evolving doctrine in the Northeast, signaling a new phase in the long-standing conflict between the state and secessionist militancy.
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