Jihad for Greater Bangladesh: Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA)

The Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) was founded sometime in the year 1996. MULTA is one among the approximately 14 Islamist terrorist outfits reportedly operating in the State of Assam. MULTA and the Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA) are also said to be part of the All Muslim United Liberation Forum of Assam (AMULFA). AMULFA was reportedly founded to coordinate the subversive activities of Islamist terrorist elements in the Northeast region of India. Though its time of founding is not known, MULFA is believed to have taken shape at the behest of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), the external intelligence agency of Pakistan. The then Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, in his statement on the floor of the Assam Legislative Assembly on ISI activities in the State, on April 6, 2000, said MULTA and MULFA were being guided by the ISI. Mahanta further claimed that the ISI had drafted a plan to cause subversion in the State by appealing to the religious sentiments of vulnerable sections in the society, in Assam.

Leadership & Cadre Strength

Available reports have, thus far, not been able to home in on the names of the leadership of MULTA. Similarly, the cadre strength of the outfit is yet not known. However, security forces have arrested many MULTA cadres and several more have also surrendered to the authorities in the State. A majority of MULTA cadres, reports indicate, are drawn from the poorer sections of the Muslim population in the State and have no more than minimal formal education.

Aims & Objectives

Reportedly, MULTA, as is allegedly the case with the other Islamist terrorist outfits in the State, seeks to mobilize the Muslim youth in Assam to 'fight' for the 'cause' of Muslims. Reports have also indicated that the outfit has as its objective the merger of Assam into Bangladesh under the fanatic dream of Greater Bangladesh, to eventually set up a 'greater independent Islamistan' for the Muslims of Assam. MULTA cadres, in fact, reports suggest, are attempting to emulate the terrorist outfits operating in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, and claiming that they are waging jehad against the Indian state.

Linkages

The outfit has established both intra and inter-regional linkages. Reports suggest it has linkages with the National Socialist Council of Nagland -Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM). NSCN-IM operates primarily in Nagaland. The NSCN-IM has allegedly provided training to MULTA cadres in the Jiribam jungles. Some reports even indicated that cadres of other Assam-based terrorist outfits championing the Islamic cause in Assam, too, had trained with the NSCN-IM.

MULTA is also said to be a constituent of the United Reformation Protest of India (URPI), another organisation that claims to be a platform for various Islamic terrorist outfits operating in the Northeast. A MULTA cadre arrested on July 9, 2002, in Bilasipara, Dhubri district, Assam, disclosed this. Besides, reports of June 21, 2002 have expressed the apprehension that the Al Qaeda might spread its network across the State. Fleeing Al Qaeda terrorists are looking for safe houses after the US campaign against them started in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the US. These cadres, reports indicate, might turn to the Islamist terrorist outfits in the State to secure safe houses.

According to intelligence sources, the ISI had backed the formation of the AMULFA, of which MULTA and MULFA are members. The sources also claim that the ISI is even providing training to these two outfits in the Syleth district of Bangladesh under the command of one Rustom Ali, who is said to be a former Pakistani Army officer. Sources further claim that the AMULFA would finally be linked with the United Liberation Front of Seven Sisters (ULFSS), in ISI’s larger plan to destabilise the Northeast region.

There have also been reports indicating that MULTA has been receiving help from the Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) of Bangladesh, a fundamentalist group that is a member of the ruling coalition in that country.

Area of Operation & Activities

Dhubri district of Assam has witnessed the maximum number of incidents involving MULTA terrorists. A MULTA cadre whose arrest was reported in the media on July 4, 2002 confessed to the police that the passage along the International Border in the Golokganj area of Dhubri district is used as a route to infiltrate into the State from Bangladesh. Nagaon and Morigaon districts of Assam have also witnessed MULTA activities. A few of its cadres have been arrested in Darrang district, too. Moreover MULTA allegedly maintains base in Jiribam sub-division of Manipur.

Extortion from the local population in the areas it operates, abductions for ransom and the illegal arms manufacture and trade in them have been identified as the main activities of the outfit. The outfit's cadres have also been involved in committing murders. For instance, a MULTA terrorist killed son of the Deputy chief of Dhubri city police on April 14, 2002. Besides, the outfit, allegedly at the behest of the ISI, has also plans to create communal disturbances in Assam. This was stated in media reports on August 30, 2002, quoting Assam Inspector General of Police Siba Brata Kakati. Further, an unnamed intelligence official was quoted in the same report as saying that approximately 30 MULTA terrorists were waiting to cross into Assam after having completed training in Bangladesh.

Finance

Reportedly extortion is a major source for its finances. The sale of illegal weapons is another source to finance its activities. In fact, several MULTA terrorists were arrested on the charges of illegal arms manufacture and their sale.

Incidents

2011

·         January 25: Three militants belonging to MULTA, identified as Sabu Ali, Hashmat Ali and Hashimuddin Ali, were arrested by the Security Forces in the Malipara areas of Kamrup District. The SFs also recovered one 7.62 pistol, a rifle and nine live cartridges from the militants.

2010

·         September 21: BSF troops of the Assam and Meghalaya frontier killed four militants of ULFA and Military Council of the KLNLF, arrested 17 militants belonging to the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), KLNLF, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Military Council faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) among others. They also got nine militants of ULFA, NDFB and All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) to surrender along with arms and ammunition.

·         August 27: A MULTA cadre, Hazrat Ali (40), was arrested along with three crude bombs by the BSF from number 10 riverine village of Dhubri District.

·         July 25: Security sources said that so far the Pakistani ISI and other forces inimical to India have not sent their operatives to Assam to carry out subversive activities as the militant groups active in the State are indulging in such acts, but such possibility in future cannot be ruled out. Sources also said that the outfits like the Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA) and the MULTA are not very active at present. However, the MULTA 'chairman' Abdur Rahman is still in Bangladesh, sources added.

·         July 12: Assam Environment and Forest Minister Rokybul Hussain informed the State Legislative Assembly that militants killed 1,549 civilians and 205 Security Forces (SFs) between 2001 and June 2010. In the armed encounters between the SFs and the militants of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) etc, 1,703 militants were killed during this period. 144 innocent persons were killed when SFs opened fire to bring law and order situation under control during the period.

The Minister said that in the incidents of encounter between the SFs and the militants, 26 civilians were killed during the period. During this period, 2,043 ULFA cadres, 899 NDFB cadres and 102 KLNLF cadres surrendered before the Government and 10,242 members of various militant outfits were arrested. He also told the House that so far six ULFA leaders and 53 cadres of the outfit are in jail and between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010 two of its leaders and 164 cadres were released on bail. The Government is interested in holding talks with ULFA, he said.

Further, he said the House that six militant outfits are active in the State at present. These organisations include-ULFA, NDFB, All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Hmar People's Convention- Democracy (HPC-D), Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM). According to him seven new outfits are active - Liberation Democratic Council of Mising Land (LDCM), United Tribal Liberation Front (UTLF), United Tribal Revolutionary Army (UTRA), Dimasa National Liberation Front (DNLF), Gorkha Liberation Army (GLA), Hills Tiger Force (HTF) and Santhal Tiger Force (STF) have come to light, said the Minister.

·         June 18: A MULTA cadre, Hussain Ali, was arrested by the Security Forces from Chirakuti village in Dhubri District.

·         June 15: Four suspected militants of a Muslim insurgent outfit were arrested by the Police as they were coming from Sonitpur District, from the 6th Mile area of the Guwahati city. Four pistols and 1.5 kilogram explosives were recovered from the possession of the militants, Police said.

·         June 13: A MULTA cadre, Anshar Ali, was arrested in a joint operation by the SFs at Saopata village under Bilasipara Police Station of Dhubri District.

·         May 21: A surrendered MULTA cadre, Umar Farooque (30), was arrested by the SFs from Lalkura village in Dhubri District. He was acting as a NDFB linkman.

·         May 20: A MULTA cadre, identified as Billal Hossain, was arrested by SFs at Kumri in Goalpara District.

·         May 18: A MULTA cadre was arrested by SFs at Tarai bari under Goalpara Police Station in Goalpara District. He was identified as Saher Ali of Kuthipara village in Bongaigaon District.

·         May 2: SFs neutralised an arms and explosives-manufacturing factory at Kathaldi char (River Island) under Bilasipara Police Station in Dhubri District. One MULTA militant, Abu Bakkar Mondal, a resident of Kathaldi char, was arrested. A revolver and four rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession. SFs also recovered a huge amount of equipment used to manufacture weapons and bombs and one Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from Mondal's residence, where he had allegedly been running the factory. Sources said, "Abu Bakkar Mondal confessed that he had been supplying the arms, ammunition and explosives to the militants groups (names not disclosed) operating in this part of the region."

·         April 24: The NDFB and ULFA formed and nurtured several radical outfits like MULTA to get logistical support, shelter and passage in minority-dominated Districts of lower Assam. Also, the arrest of a MULTA cadre in Dhubri District on April 23, has unravelled involvement of MULTA in drug peddling. Four months ago, two MULTA cadres had been arrested with 400 grams of brown sugar in Meghalaya's Garo Hills District on December 29, 2009.

Sources said that MULTA that stepped up its drug-peddling activities after intensive counter-insurgency operations against the ULFA and the NDFB, which have been supporting it reduced its strength considerably. Sources mentioned, "This is evident from the fact that many youths of minority community belonging to the NDFB or acting as its linkmen have been arrested from the lower Assam districts in the past few years." The source added, "The ISI is sitting at the helm of affairs and controlling the situation in the Northeast from Bangladesh and the fundamentalist organisations are carrying out their activities under the umbrella of Ulfa and the NDFB without much hue and cry." The report adds that it took a long time for the intelligence agencies to understand that ULFA and the NDFB were using these fundamentalist organisations as their conduit.

Meanwhile, sources also said that no direct link had been found between the MULTA and any National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) faction. But since MULTA's patrons, ULFA and the NDFB, camped in Bangladesh and had tactical understanding with the NSCN factions for logistical support, it could be involved in arms racket, mentioned sources. The strategic location of Dhubri serves their purpose very well as the District shares an international border with Bangladesh, inter-State boundaries with Meghalaya and West Bengal and is in close proximity to Bhutan. All the narcotics routed to this part of the region come through Bangladesh. The Police and the Army have seized brown sugar five times in the past three years. Sources said though MULTA had lost considerable strength and was lying low at present, it was not totally depleted.

·         April 23: A militant belonging to MULTA was arrested by the Security Forces at Paglahat area in Dhubri District. Police said that brown sugar worth INR 0.4 million in the international market was recovered from his possession. He was also involved in drug trafficking and arms dealing.

·         April 2: Two MULTA cadres, Paiudding Ahmed and Jainal Ali, were arrested by the SFs from the Patgaon Jainaryarea under Serfanguri Police Station of Kokrajhar District. Two grenades were recovered from their possession.

·         April 1: A MULTA cadre, Johan Uddin, was arrested by SFs from Diabari village under Bilasipara Police Station of Dhubri District. A pistol with ammunition was recovered from his possession.

·         March 29: Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain in the State Legislative Assembly said that among the active militant groups, the ULFA has a strength of 875 cadres, while the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) has 225 cadres, AANLA has 30 cadres, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) has 40 cadres, Hmar People's Convention- Democracy (HPC-D) has 50 cadres, MULTA has 110 cadres and Assam unit of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin has 45 cadres. The Minister further said that the Unified Command structure is active in the State for launching coordinated operations against militants. The Minister informed the House that in the last two years, 535 persons, including 494 civilians and 41 SFs, were killed by militants, while, during the same period, 333 militants were killed by SFs in counter-insurgency operations. He added that two outfits, Bircha Commando Force (BCF) and Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), are in suspension of operation with the State Government and two others- BW and KLNLF laid down arms to join the mainstream.

·         March 2: A suspected MULTA militant, Nurul Islam, was arrested by the SFs from Silongoni of Nagaon District. A pistol and one round of ammunition were recovered from his possession.

·         February 18: Two MULTA cadres were arrested by the Army from Agomoni in Dhubri District. The cadres were identified as Jahinur Islam and Ahidur Islam. An Italian-made pistol, five rounds of live ammunition and two Bangladeshi subscriber identity module cards were recovered from their possession.

·         January 14: Two MULTA cadres, identified as Abdus Salam and Noor Islam, were arrested by Security Forces (SFs) from Rakhaldubi area under Baguan Police Station of Goalpara District.

2009

·         December 16: A MULTA cadre, Kashim Ali (45), is arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel along India-Bangladesh border. One pistol and five live ammunitions were recovered from his possession. He belongs to Majerchar village in Dhubri District.

·         October 12: One MULTA cadre, identified as Osman Gani (32), was arrested by the Army personnel from Nayagaon area of Dhubri District.

·         September 9: A MULTA cadre, identified as Elahi Sheikh, was arrested by the Police from the Pipulbari village in Dhubri District.

·         July 31: The Assam Rifles personnel arrested one MULTA militant, identified as Gulbahar Mozumdar (28), from a Tezpur-bound passenger bus near Gatanga under Bebejia Police outpost in Sonitpur.

·         June 28: SFs arrested two MULTA militants from Patradisa, about four kilometres from the Bakalaiaghat Police Station in Nagaon District. The duo was identified as Nijam Uddin Ahmed (19) and Mustaque Ahmed (20) of Uttarsamurali area under Murazhar Police Station. Eight detonators, four safety fuse wires and two kilograms of explosive materials were recovered from their possession.

·         June 23: Assam Police personnel arrested a MULTA militant, identified as Mohammad Sahidul Islam (20), from his residence at Nimtola Bahalmukh village under Mairabari Police Station in Nagaon District. One Chinese MM pistol was recovered from his possession.

·         June 11: The personnel of Assam Rifles arrested two MULTA militants from Lankai Sapori area of Sonitpur District.

·         May 14: SFs arrested three MULTA cadres, identified as Rabiul sheikh (22), Habizur Rahman (22) and Zakaria Sarkar (18) from Kumarganj market in Kokrajhar District.

·         April 27: SFs neutralized a locally-made pistol factory run by the MULTA at Kathandi area under Bilasipara Police station of Dhubri District. Five MULTA cadres were also arrested and a large number of tools along with one locally-made pistol and seven rounds of ammunition were recovered. The arrested militants were identified as Abu Bakar Mondal, Abdul Ahmed Mondal, Saher Ali, Jahangir Ali and Hasan Ali. All four are from Kathandi area in Bilasipara and the other is from Jaleswar of Kokrajhar.

·         April 21: Three MULTA militants, identified as Jehirul Islam (26), Sahabuddin Ali (26), and Harmus Ali (25) of Nagaon District, were arrested at Rajapathar in the Karbi Anglong District.

·         April 20: The Army killed five militants, including an accused in the Dhekiajuli blast of April 15, during an encounter at Aka Basti in the Sonitpur District. Out of the five militants, Prabhat Basumatary, Krishna Basumatary and Deithang Basumatary belonged to the NDFB while Babul Ali and Yunis Ali were of the MULTA. Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the militants were planning to abduct a businessman, Paras Gurung, of Lokhra area in the same district. The army said Prabhat Basumatary was a known operative of Pakistan's ISI and a key perpetrator in the bomb blast at Dhekiajuli. The army recovered five 9-mm pistols, a Chinese hand grenade, five kilograms of explosives, 10 detonators and 107 rounds of AK-47 ammunition from the encounter site. Another army official said, "We had information about the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB working hand-in-hand with Muslim fundamentalist groups."

The Police, however, said the slain persons had no links with militant groups but were a gang of dacoits. An unnamed senior Police official said, "Prabhat Basumatary is a dreaded dacoit arrested several times earlier. He has no links with the NDFB or the Dhekiajuli blast. The blast was carried out by ULFA."

·         April 4: One MULTA militant, identified as Akbar Ali, was arrested by the 21st Jat Regiment from his residence at Char-Bidyapara under Dhubri Police Station of Dhubri District. Two crude bombs, each weighing five kilograms were recovered from his residence.

·         March 13: One MULTA militant, identified as Nakul Ali, was arrested by the Police from Kathonibari area under Thelamara Police Station of Sonitpur District.

·         March 7: The Army arrested a MULTA militant, identified as Akramal Ali, from Kadamguri village under Gossaigaon Police station in the Kokrajhar District. A revolver and two 9-mm pistol bullets were recovered from his possession.

·         March 4: One MULTA militant, identified as Akbar Ali, was arrested by the 21st Jat Regiment of Indian Army from Char-Bidyapara area under Dhubri Police Station of Dhubri District. Two crude bombs, each weighing five kilograms, were recovered from his house.

·         February 28: 45 militants, including 32 ULFA cadres, six KLNLF cadres, five NDFB cadres and a cadre each of the MULTA and PLF-M, surrendered along with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition before Red Horns Division of Indian Army in a surrender ceremony organized at Rangiya of Kamrup District.

·         February 19: One MULTA cadre, identified as Imtiaz Ahmed, was arrested by the Army personnel from C.R. Das Road in Dhubri Town.

·         February 16: The Police arrested one MULTA militant, identified as Saiful Islam, at Samuguri Bajiagaon in the Nagaon District.

·         February 9: A MULTA militant, identified as Habibar Ali, was arrested by SFs along with two bombs from Phulgasa village under Fakirganj Police Station in the Dhubri District.

·         February 6: SFs arrested five MULTA militants from Gauripur in the Dhubri District along the India-Bangladesh border.

·         January 24: Two MULTA militants, Sahidur Rahman and Nasiruddin, were arrested by the SF personnel. While Sahidur Rahman was arrested from Sadartilla along the Assam-Bangladesh border, Nasiruddin was arrested from Kaliabor in the Nagaon District. According to Police sources, they had links with the DGFI of Bangladesh.

·         January 23: The Guwahati City Police arrested a MULTA militant, Mohammad Dilwar, from Sarabbhati area. Police sources added that Mohammad Dilwar is a Bangladeshi national and some Bangladeshi currency and documents were recovered from his possession.

·         January 22: The SFs arrested two MULTA militants, identified as Hatem Ali and Fazrul Ali, from Sirajuli area under Dhekiajuli Police Station in the Sonitpur District.

·         January 16: Seven hardcore militants of the MULTA were arrested from the Chapar and Gouripur areas of Dhubri District. They were identified as Abdul Rahman, Abdul Mazid Sheikh, Nazrul Islam, Akhrul Zaman Talukdar, Halim Ali, Kamizuddin and Mokiul Islam Miah. A locally-made pistol, two hand grenades, seven rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition were recovered from their possession, Police sources said.

·         January 12: The Assam Government stated in the Legislative Assembly that eight militant groups, including the ULFA, KLNLF, Black Widow, AANLA, KRA, HuM, MULTA and HPC-D, are active in the State. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that both the ULFA and NDFB are carrying out subversive activities in Assam under the influence of foreign powers and top leaders of the outfit are staying abroad. He further said that in 2008, 124 militants belonging to various outfits were killed and over 1300 were arrested. The Security Forces also recovered 203 bombs and 202 grenades from the militants.

2008

·         December 7: SFs arrested a MULTA militant, identified as Hafizur Rahman, from Bhomrabil under Gossaigaon police station in the Kokrajhar district. A pistol was recovered from his possession.

·         November 26: Three MULTA militants were arrested by the Army from Dalaigaon village in the Morigaon district. They were identified as Mohammed Dadul, Habibur and Azizul Haque. The Army also recovered one 7.62 mm SLR, one .22 pistol, one SLR magazine, four rounds of ammunition and one mobile phone from their possession.

·         November 19: Three unidentified MULTA cadres were arrested by the security force personnel from Sonitpur district.

·         October 25: The Dhubri District Police seized crude arms and explosives from a factory at Tambakubari-I village under Bogribari police station. Khaibor Ali, an arms supplier who used to run the factory, was arrested. Police claimed to have foiled plans to trigger a blast in the run-up to Diwali (Festival of Light) celebrations. The factory supplied firearms and ammunition to militant groups, including the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and bandit gangs operating in lower Assam districts. Police seized 30 hand-made live ammunition of rifles, 197 empty cartridges of revolvers and pistols, 1 kilogram of explosives and 1.5kilogram of lead. However, five persons engaged in manufacturing arms and ammunition managed to escape.

·         October 14: Two militants of the MULTA, Abdul Mannan and Samsul Haque, were arrested by security forces from the Kachuwa Gadhara area of Nagaon district. They also deposited two grenades and a pistol.

·         August 13: One MULTA cadre, Muslim Ali, is wounded by troops during an encounter at Muslim Ghopa village in the Darrang district.

·         June 17 : Security forces arrested four suspected MULTA cadres in the Nagaon district. They were identified as Mohammed Akbar Ali, Jamar Ali, Eman Hussain and Jafar Ali.

·         April 5: Two MULTA cadres are arrested by Army personnel from Chatguri-Jangirkilla in the Dhubri district.

·         April 1: The Assam Government stated in the Legislative Assembly that 234 Islamist militants were currently lodged in different jails in the State. The 234 militants include as many as 150 belonging to the MULTA, 50 to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), and seven Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operatives.

·         January 7: A Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Asom (MULTA) militant, identified as Razizul Haque Byapari, surrendered before security force personnel in Guwahati along with a 9 mm revolver with two rounds of ammunition.

2007

·         November 7: The Army arrested one MULTA militant, Moinul Haque, from Uttar Raipur area under Golokganj police station in the Dhubri district.

·         July 14: Police recovered the dead body of a civilian, identified as Ibrahim Ali, from Fakirganj police station in the Dhubri district. Ali was abducted by the suspected MULTA militants one and half month back.

·         June 5: Police arrested one unidentified MULTA cadre from Fakiragram in the Kokrajhar district along with an Improvised Explosive Device weighing three kilograms.

·         March 18: Two MULTA cadres, Rizaul Islam and Zamuruddin, were arrested by the Army personnel during a search operation at Madhusolmari near Gauripur in the Dhubri district.

·         March 14: Two MULTA militants, Zilani Sheikh and Zahirul Ali, were arrested from Balajan Lalpura in the Dhubri district. One pistol and a bomb were recovered from them.

·         January 29: Three MULTA cadres, Kalu Sheikh, Abdul Jalil and Tamiruddin Sheikh, are arrested during a search operation at Sesapani area in the Kokrajhar district. A revolver with three rounds of ammunition was recovered from their possession.

·         January 22: A ULFA militant, Bikash Roy alias Mallic Ahmed, is arrested from a rented house at Panjabari area in Guwahati. Bikash reportedly worked for the ULFA as an agent of the MULTA. Some incriminating documents were recovered from his possession indicating his close rapport with a section of politicians. He was involved in the January 9-bomb blast in Dispur, the capital of Assam.

·         January 5: Three suspected MULTA cadres are arrested from Sater Alga village in the Dhubri district. A bomb and 500 grams of explosives are recovered from their hideout.

2006

·         December 25: A MULTA cadre, Nishan Ali, is arrested from Demdema village in the Dhubri district. A bomb is recovered from his possession.

·         December 24: The Army and the Special Branch of Assam Police arrest Matibur Rahman, a cadre of Black Widow, anti-talk faction of the DHD led by the Jwel Gorlosa, from Pailang village in the Cachar district. Rahman reportedly confessed to have been recruited by the Black Widow for maintaining link with Manipur-based PULF, Pakistan's Inter- Services Intelligence (ISI) and LeT. The report adds that PULF had tied up with the MULTA and MULFA, and extended its operation to Barak Valley.

·         December 6: A MULTA cadre, Nabab Ali, is arrested by security force personnel during a search operation at Bokola village under Jamuguri police station in the Sonitpur district.

·         November 30: Two suspected MULTA militants, Inamul Hussain and Zamila Begum, are arrested from Tinghoriadoom Gaon under Tinghoria police outpost in the Tinsukia district. Four detonators are recovered from their possession. Based on their confession, six persons were arrested subsequently for interrogation.

·         November 29: The Inspector General of BSF for the Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland frontiers, Jyoti Prakash Sinha, said that at least 14 cadres belonging to the MULTA and MULFA were sent to Bangladesh to study religion. But they received arms training there and came back to the Northeast. He also mentions that Pakistan's ISI is clandestinely working in Bangladesh to bring all Northeast-based insurgent outfits and Jihadi elements to work under one umbrella.

·         November 1: A suspected MULTA cadre, Matiur Rahman, is arrested by security force personnel during a search operation at Jhaskal Ditiya Khanda village under Golakganj police station in the Dhubri district. A huge cache of live cartridges of AK-47 rifle is recovered from his possession.

·         July 21: The four MULTA militants, including the self-styled ‘commander’ Nur Islam alias Limbu, who were arrested by Assam Police on July 18, are reported to have confessed that at least 20 cadres of their outfit used Shillong and Lad Rymbai in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya as their routes to escape to Bangladesh in recent past.

·         July 18: Guwahati City Police arrests a self-styled ‘commander’ of the MULTA, Nur Islam alias Lambu, from the Ambari area. Reports said that at least 20 MULTA cadres have gone from Assam to Bangladesh passing though Meghalaya for training.

·         March 29: Army personnel, following a MULTA cadre Quasim Ali, recover four bombs from a house in the Goalpara district.

·         January 22: Three suspected MULTA cadres are arrested from the Dhubri and Golokganj police station areas along the India-Bangladesh border of Dhubri district. One .38 revolver, one handmade pistol, three rounds of live cartridges and a demand note of Rupees 26,000 are recovered from two MULTA cadres, Mohibul Hoque and Shohidul Hoque of Hoverpara village. Five grenades weighing one kilogram each and some incriminating documents are recovered from the third, identified as Aminul Hoque of Darbarpara village.

2005

·         November 27: Three ULFA cadres, identified as Sirajul Haq, Bogen Neog and Ritu Sarma, and a MULTA cadre, Moinul Haq, surrender before the Superintendent of Police in the Dhubri district.

·         July 31: Acting on a tip off, the Dhubri district police arrest two suspected MULTA cadres from a hide out in Chagolia along the Assam-West Bengal border. The arrested militants, identified as Ashraful Hussain and Baschu Mian, hail from Nakkati Nagar in the Coochbehar district of West Bengal.

·         July 21: A MULTA cadre, Abuwal Hussain, is arrested from Bidyardabri Part V village in the Dhubri district.

·         July 20: A MULTA cadre, Moinul Haque alias Laden, is arrested at Sindurai under Golokganj police station in the Dhubri district.

·         March 14: Assam Home Minister, Rockybul Hussain, speaking in the Legislative Assembly, discloses that 4,768 terrorists have surrendered in the State between January 2001 and February 2005. He says that the surrendered include 1168 ULFA, 776 NDFB, 2648 BLT, 48 MULTA and 4 NSCN cadres.

·         February 5: Lumding police arrest two MULTA cadres, belonging to the Naukhuti village of Nagaon district. A pistol, a revolver, a sten gun and a rifle are recovered from their possession.

2004

·         September 22: A MULTA cadre, Dadul Ali, is arrested from the Urimghat area of Golaghat district along with a SBBL gun and a pistol.

·         September 19: Assam Police arrests a MULTA cadre from Hatsinghimari in the Dhubri district and recover a pistol and 25 rounds of ammunition from him.

·         September 7: A MULTA cadre, Mohammed Abdul Laskar, is arrested at Lanka in the Nagaon district recently. A 9mm pistol is recovered from his possession.

·         September 5: A girl student, who is abducted two months ago by Wajid Ahmed, brother of Sayed Sabir Ahmed, 'commander-in-chief' of the MULTA, is rescued by the Assam Police from New Delhi and brought back to the Nagaon district.

·         September 1: Security forces recover at least 50 high-velocity electronic detonators from a private residence at Baghahat under Sonai block in the Cachar district. A person, identified as Mohammed Ibomcha, suspected to have links with either the PLA of Manipur or the MULTA was arrested in this connection.

·         August 30: A MULTA cadre, Nur Hussain, surrenders before the Army at the Bashbari camp in Dhubri district.

·         August 28: Cachar district is put on maximum alert amidst reports that the ULFA is collaborating with the MULTA and PULF to carry out subversive activities in the district.

·         August 27: At least 70 terrorists, including 47 ULFA, 11 NDFB, 8 BTF and 4 MULTA cadres, surrender at the 5 Assam Rifles camp at Chardwar in the Sonitpur district. They also deposit arms and ammunitions, including AK 47 rifles, 9 mm pistols, revolver and 264 live ammunitions.

·         July 30: Nagaon 'district commander' of the MULTA, Sayed Sabi Ahmed, is arrested from Dimaruguri on charges of extortion.

·         May 22: At least forty-seven terrorists, including 20 ULFA, 25 NDFB and 2 MULTA cadres, surrender along with 42 assorted weapons to the Army authorities at Tamulpur in the Nalbari district of Assam.

·         April 12: Lohit Nath, a student of Class IX of Kokrajhar Higher Secondary School, who is abducted by suspected MULTA cadres on March 18, 2004, is released after 25 days at Latapara under Bilasipara subdivision.

·         April 6: Army personnel arrest a MULTA cadre, Abdul Khalek, from Khalihamari village in the Nagaon district.

·         March 29: A MULTA cadre surrenders along with arms and ammunition before Lt Gen. Anup S. Jamawal, General-Officer-Commanding of the Army's Gajraj Corps at Tezpur.

·         March 18: Suspected MULTA cadres abduct Lohit Nath, a student of Class IX of Kokrajhar Higher Secondary School.

·         February 24: A MULTA cadre, identified as Sakimuddin Haque alias Ilias Bhutto, is arrested by the Army at Paglahat Bazaar under Golakganj police station in the Dhubri district. He is reported to have close links with the ULFA.

·         January 31: At least 156 terrorists including 53 ULFA, 91 NDFB, 4 BTF and 4 MULTA cadres surrender at Tamulpur in the Nalbari district.

·         January 28: Thirteen cadres belonging to the ULFA, NDFB and MULTA surrender before security force personnel.

·         January 3: Two MULTA cadres surrender to the army at Laipuli in the Tinsukia district.

2003

·         December 31: One MULTA terrorist surrenders in Jorhat.

·         November 26: One MULTA terrorist is arrested in the Cooch Behar district of North Bengal.

·         October 30: A MULTA terrorist, identified as Mohammad Ali Jinnah, is arrested from Bogulamari village in the Dhubri district of Assam.

·         October 10: A MULTA terrorist, identified as Nurul Haque, who was allegedly involved in illegal arms smuggling from Bangladesh to Assam, is arrested on an unspecified date from Geelaldah in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal.

·         August 17: MULTA cadre surrenders with two AK-47 rifles and an unspecified quantity of ammunition before the police in Dhubri district.

·         June 19: Media reports indicate that terrorist outfits, including the ULFA, the NDFB and the MULTA, among others, are currently active in Dhubri district.

·         June 14: MULTA terrorist Abdul Ali is arrested from the outfit's hideout at Larkuchi under Mukalmua police station limits in Nalbari district.

·         June 5: Reports indicates that MULTA terrorists under the leadership of Najimullah have intensified their activities among the minority community in Dhubri district along the India-Bangladesh border.

·         June 2: Police in the Kokrajhar district destroy a MULTA camp at Bengtol in the Indo-Myanmar border area.

• May 21: Report indicates that a group of 28 MULTA terrorists led by a ‘second lieutenant’ Abdul Jalil have infiltrated into Assam from Bangladesh.

• May 20: Reports indicate that MULTA has ‘purchased’ 55 houses in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh in 2003 to shelter recruits and some leaders of the outfit from Assam.

• May 2: Two MULTA terrorists surrender to the police in Dhubri district with a pistol and 36 grenades.

• March 26: MULTA 'sergeant' arrested from an unnamed place in Nagaon district.

• March 8: Three MULTA terrorists are arrested in Lalkura village, Golokganj police station-limits, Dhubri district, while on an extortion bid.

• January 19: Three MULTA terrorists arrested from Hatigaon area in Guwahati.

2002

·         December 3: Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) extremist Manowar Hussain alias Yearuddin is arrested from a place under Bogribari police station-limits

·         September 24: Police arrest MULTA Dhubri 'district commander' Md Abdur Rahman from Uchita village, Golokganj police station-limits, Assam.

·         September 18: Two MULTA terrorists make an unsuccessful bid to abduct a local businessman from Panikhaiti area, Nagaon police station-limits.

·         August 30: Reports say police sources indicated that MULTA, along with other terrorist outfits, is championing the ‘Islamic cause’ and might spread communal hatred in Assam

·         August 19: Police arrest two MULTA terrorists––Jamaluddin Sheikh and Abdus Salam––from Jhulan mela), an annual traditional fair held in Dhubri district, Assam, for their alleged involvement in illegal arms trade.

·         July 22: Six MULTA terrorists surrender in Dhubri district.

·         July 9: MULTA terrorist arrested for allegedly running an illegal gun-making factory in Boyjer Alga Char area, Bilasipara, Dhubri district.

·         July 8: Security forces arrest one MULTA cadre each from Nagaon and Golaghat districts, following the interrogation of another a cadre arrested earlier at Panbari, Dhubri district.

·         July 4: Intelligence sources say MULTA is receiving help from the Jamat-e-Islami (JeI), a fundamentalist political party of Bangladesh and a member of the ruling coalition.

·         June 26: Report says two arrested MULTA terrorists revealed during interrogation that the son of Dhubri district police deputy chief was killed by a MULTA terrorist, on April 14, at Belguri village, Golakganj police station limits, Dhubri district.

·         January 11: Report says a MULTA terrorist was among the 34 terrorists killed in various incidents in Kamrup in the year 2001.

2001

·         September 23: Five MULTA cadres arrested by security forces in Assam's Darrang district

·         26 January: Four MULTA, besides 134 from various outfits, surrender to Assam Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S.K. Sinha at the Republic Day function in Guwahati.

2000

·         October 24: 10 MULTA terrorists, besides 53 from various other outfits, surrender to Assam Governor Sinha and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta at Bilasipara, Dhubri district.

·         March 31: Abdul Jalil Ragbi, Assam Jamiat Ulama vice-president denies, in Guwahati, the presence of MULTA or MULFA in Assam.

·         January 25: Security forces arrest four MULTA terrorists from Nalbari and one more from Jorang Pathar village in Nagaon district, Assam.

1996

·         MULTA founded sometime in the year.

Note: Compiled from news reports.