Heerak Jyoti Mahanta

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Heerak Jyoti Mahanta
Born(1961-09-06)6 September 1961
Nalbari, Assam, India
Died31 December 1991(1991-12-31) (aged 30)
Guwahati, Assam, India
Cause of deathKilled by Assam Police & Indian Army
Burial placeBhootnath Cremation Ground
26°10′10″N91°43′21″E / 26.1693348°N 91.7225207°E / 26.1693348; 91.7225207
Other namesJayanta Medhi
Naren Deka [1]
Alma mater Gauhati University
Parents
  • Ratnapati Mahanta (father)
  • Bimala Mahanta (mother)

Heerak Jyoti Mahanta, also spelled as Hirakjyoti Mahanta, Hirak Jyoti Mahanta, alias Jayanta Medhi alias Naren Deka, was the first deputy commander-in-chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). He was killed on the eve of 31 December 1991. [1] [2]

Contents

He was one of the hardcore cadres of the ULFA. He strongly opposed any kind of surrendering and lateral talk with the Indian government, and it never happened within the outfit until his death. After his death, though, in 1992, a large section of second-rung leaders and members surrendered to government authorities. [3]

Early life and education

Mahanta was a student of Guwahati's renowned Cotton Collegiate Government High School, and obtained a Bachelor of Science in physics from Gauhati University. [4]

Militancy life

Mahanta completed his militancy training in Kachin, Myanmar with ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, and they returned to Assam in 1984. [5] [6] Mahanta was a brave and strong youth militant leader in the outfit. [7]

Conspiracy

In the late 1990s, Mahanta became very powerful. He openly criticized the policies of the central leadership of ULFA, and posed a potential threat to Paresh Baruah. Subsequently, under the direction of Paresh Baruah, his movement was passed on to the Assam Police, which ultimately led to his death. [8]

Death

On 31 December 1991, military intelligence received a tip-off about Mahanta's hideout in Guwahati. A huge team of the army moved quickly, nabbing one of Mahanta's security guards, Moon Ali, from a hotel in Guwahati's Fancy Bazaar. Moon Ali's detention led the army to the house of Nripen Baruah in the Geetanagar area, where Mahanta and his two other security guards were taking shelter. The army encircled the house; the three men were unable to escape from the gherao and all were detained. [3] [9]

Mahanti was taken to the Geetanagar police station, where he was shot and killed. Though his death occurred in the police station, most of the newspapers argue that uncompromising Mahanta was killed by Army as he refused to relent even after being caught. [10]

Heerak Jyoti Mahanta's death created a massive outrage throughout Assam, amongst both the outfit and civilians. Thousands of villagers of his hometown of the Nalbari district gathered where ULFA militants offered the last honor to their leader. [11] The funeral processions served as a law and order challenge to the state government. [12] [13]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Heerak Jyoti Mahanta – Man who won't be a forgotten History". Times of Assam. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Baruah, Sanjib (1994). "The State and Separatist Militancy in Assam: Winning a Battle and Losing the War?". Asian Survey. 34 (10). University of California Press: 863–877. doi:10.2307/2644966. JSTOR   2644966 – via JSTOR.
  3. 1 2 Hazarika, Sanjoy (2000). Strangers of the Mist: Tales of War and Peace from India's Northeast. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN   9788184753349.
  4. ↑ "Heerak Jyoti Mahanta – Man who won't be a forgotten History". Times of Assam. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Menon, Mady (25 August 2020). A Saga of the Valorous Wanchos. Notion Press. ISBN   9781649199324.
  6. ↑ Mahanta, Nani Gopal (2013). Confronting the State: ULFA's Quest for Sovereignty. SAGE Publications. p. 59. ISBN   9788132113270.
  7. ↑ Rammohun, E M (2011). Countering Insurgencies in India : An Insider's View. United Service Institution of India. New Delhi: Vij Books India Private Limited. p. 61. ISBN   978-93-81411-66-7.
  8. ↑ Sidiqi, M. A. (12 August 2004). "Turbulent time for NE militant outfits". Dailyexcelsior.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  9. ↑ Lolla Paul, C. H. Rajahans (2002). The Terror Business: Counting the Major Terrorist Groups of the World & Insight into Their Growth & Operations : Volume 3. Dominant Publishers and Distributors. p. 1654. ISBN   9788178880303.
  10. ↑ "Peace in pieces:What Government ought to do". Srimanta.org. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  11. ↑ Rajahans, C. H; Paul, Lolla (2002). The Terror Business : Counting the Major Terrorist Groups of the World & Insight into Their Growth & Operations. New Delhi: Dominant Publishers and Distributors. p. 16654. ISBN   978-81-7888-030-3.
  12. ↑ New Delhi, India (1999). "Faultlines". Faultlines. 8–11. Institute for Conflict Management: 115. ISSN   0972-1290.
  13. ↑ Rajahans, C. H; Paul, Lolla (2002). The Terror Business : Counting the Major Terrorist Groups of the World & Insight into Their Growth & Operations. Vol. 3 (1st ed.). New Delhi: Dominant Publishers and Distributors. p. 1654. ISBN   978-81-7888-030-3.
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