Once again Assam is reeling under a series of coordinated and targeted terrorist attacks unleashed by the extremist outfit, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Unveiling its terror agenda in the New Year, it has so far killed more than 60 people in the continuing blood bath which started on 5 January. In all likelihood the death toll could be much higher in the days to come. Is the ULFA on a killing spree? Why is it that the ULFA has chosen this time of the year to attack? Does this attack signal anything or is it just another terror drama orchestrated by the group? What about the much talked about Unified Command and Intelligence networks of a number of security agencies operating Assam? It is too early to jump to any conclusion but these and many other questions need to be answered.

Terrorism all over the world has three elements; an ability to attack, the ability to remain in the limelight and an ability to attack at a desired time. Throughout 2006, ULFA showed its ability to conduct targeted attacks through several incidents of this type and this may be established from the fact that despite talk of peace, the ULFA killed at least 174 people during the year.

Recently an opinion poll, carried out by the NGO, Assam Public Works, which covered 2,564,128 people in nine districts, revealed that a majority 95.53 per cent of the people rejected the ULFA's demand for a "sovereign Asom". What is more important is the fact that the referendum was conducted by a forum representing the kin of the militants. This certainly has come as a big shock to the ULFA who has been engaged in a protracted armed struggle for the last thirty years. This carnage may then be seen as a desperate attempt by ULFA to remain in the limelight.

From ULFA's point of view the attack could not have come at a better time as the state is gearing up to host the 33rd National Games in February which also faces a boycott call by the ULFA. The series of attacks came just a day after Union Home Secretary VK Duggal expressed satisfaction over Dispur's security blueprint. This cannot be a coincidence; rather this is part of a well-thought out terrorist game plan by ULFA aiming to plant doubt and fear in the minds of sportspersons from outside the state.

By targeting Bihari migrants and by invoking regional sentiments, the ULFA certainly has a game plan in place to prove that it is the true protector of Assamese interest. In the December issue of its mouth piece Freedom; ULFA described the illegal migrants in Assam-which also include migrants from the rest of India-as a threat to the existence of Assam. It alleged that these migrants continue to occupy the political and economic ground at the cost of the indigenous people which has resulted in considerable damage to the social fabric of the state. Right from its inception in April 1979, this has remained the central theme of the ULFA and it has taken thousands of lives to send out its deadly message.

While condemning the attack, the Assam Chief Minister also expressed his anguish over the shortage of security personnel in the state. He demanded the immediate deployment of an additional 90 companies of paramilitary forces in the violence-hit areas. However, the deployment of armed forces alone is not sufficient; the real problem lies in the failure of the intelligence gathering network of Indian security agencies. The much talked about Unified Command in the state has so far not been able to interlink various security agencies working in the state and this is apparent from the fact that during the last four months twenty people have been killed in the state capital of Guwahati alone. The Government also needs to smash the deadly narco connections of ULFA as this has so far remained the prime source of finance for ULFA. ULFA has also established links with several terrorist groups functioning both inside and outside India which need to be broken.

By targeting innocent non-Assamese civilians, the ULFA has made its intentions clear; it is now for the Government to take a stand. In all likelihood, deployment of the Army may soon be expected in Assam and there is a possibility that the National Games will be shifted out of Assam. In both cases there is an urgent need to handle these issues with care as the ULFA would try to colour these events in its favor. On the other hand, now that there is a third party survey report on the popular mood in Assam which certainly does not favor the ULFA, it is for the Assam government to take measures that would instill confidence among both the Assamese as well as the Hindi-speaking migrants.