ULFA-I Accuses Indian Army of Drone Strikes on Myanmar Camps; Army Refutes Allegations

The banned insurgent organisation United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (ULFA-I) has accused the Indian Army of carrying out drone strikes on its mobile camps located along the India–Myanmar border. According to the group, the attacks—allegedly conducted in the early hours of Sunday—claimed the life of a senior ULFA-I leader and left around 19 fighters injured.

Multiple Camp Strikes Alleged
ULFA-I claims the strikes targeted several camps inside Myanmar territory near the border. The group maintains that these attacks were deliberate and part of a larger operation against their leadership.

Indian Army Denies Role
Responding to the allegations, Defence spokesperson Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat categorically denied any Army involvement, stating: “There are no inputs with the Indian Army about any such operation.”

Follow-Up Strikes and Leadership Losses
In a later statement, ULFA-I alleged that a second wave of drone strikes occurred during the funeral of leader Nayan Asom, killing two more senior commanders—Ganesh Asom and Pradip Asom.

Claims of Advanced Weaponry
The insurgent group, in collaboration with Manipur’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), further accused the Indian Army of deploying WARMATE loitering munitions equipped with thermobaric (vacuum) warheads—high-impact precision weapons capable of causing extensive damage.

Strategic Implications
Security analysts suggest that, if true, such strikes could deliver a significant setback to attempts—allegedly supported by China and Pakistan—to reignite insurgent movements in Northeast India through safe havens in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Political and Regional Reactions
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed the likelihood of ULFA-I retaliating within Assam, noting that the group was unlikely to attack its home state. He added that both the state and central governments had no official information regarding such an operation.

Alleged Use of Foreign Drones
ULFA-I claims that debris recovered from the strike sites indicates the use of Poland-made WARMATE drones, possibly from batches previously tested during Operation Sindoor.

Myanmar Factor
Reports also point to a recent visit by an Indian military delegation to Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, potentially linked to the aftermath of the alleged drone incidents.

Summary
ULFA-I maintains that Indian forces carried out coordinated drone strikes on its camps in Myanmar, leading to high-profile casualties within its leadership ranks. The Indian Army has firmly rejected these claims, calling them baseless. The incident has sparked political debate in Assam and heightened concerns over the security situation in the Northeast, amid ongoing insurgency threats and complex regional geopolitics.