THE ULFA THREAT IS ALMOST OVER

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta director general of police, Assam

- NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta was issued a death warrant by ULFA, a few years after he joined the Indian Police Service in 1988. Subsequently, the dreaded National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) also issued one. Instead of deterring him, this made him vow to break the backbone of the outfits. Today, he has in his grip Drishti Rajkhowa, second in command of the banned ULFA (Independent) and close confidant of Paresh Baruah. In an interview with THE WEEK, Mahanta talks about Rajkhowa, the decline of ULFA and the new threats emerging in the northeast. Excerpts:

Q Why are militants in Assam surrendering en masse?

A combination of factors has led to the closing of terror shops. There has been tremendous pressure from security forces and the Assam Police have hit them where it hurts most, like cutting the economic supply chain from Myanmar. Our appeal to the cadres to come out and lead a better life has also attracted them a great deal. The rehabilitation policies of the Centre and the state have given hope to misguided youth. The political acumen of the current regime has also expedited the matter.

We liaised with an intersection of groups by holding secret meetings at undisclosed locations under the most trying circumstances. It finally led to a set of broad agreements and the government took a final call. Accords have been signed with the Bodo groups, including various factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), whose entire top leadership has either been arrested or has surrendered. This was unthinkable just a few years back. The ULFA threat is also almost over and whatever is remaining is being managed well. There are signs that ULFA will have to come on board sooner than later.