In the first week of November 1990, when the National Front Government became a minority government there practically was no government to speak of, in Delhi.

But on the crucial day, 7 November, someone somewhere took an unprecedented decision. Next day, in the early hours, Indian army and air force were involved in airlifting top executives of Brook Bond, Lipton and Doomdooma Tea companies from the airstrip controlled by the Aviation Research Center in Tinsukia.

The immediate provocation for this decision was the activities of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which was building pressure on these tea companies to donate large sums of money.

ULFA was established in April 1979. Many of its earlier members and current sympathisers were part of the AASU movement. Soon after, sometime in the early eighties, it forged links with other insurgent groups in the region. The real take off point, though, of ULFA is in the early months of 1986 when its presence began to be registered in the politics and public life of Assam.

Three weeks after the tea company executives were moved out of Assam army troops moved into Lakhipathar area of Tinsukia and laid a siege of ULFA’s main camp. Army refers to ULFA as a ‘cancerous growth of Assam that needs a surgical operation’.

Our rulers by extending the concept of sovereignty inwards have let the army fight 'for the nation', within the boundaries of the nation. The consequences are that, leave alone sovereignty, democracy is in danger. Army’s consistent and persistent refusal to respect any law, norm, code or court has made it a power unto itself, in Assam.

The question of black laws and army operations remains. Withdrawal of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), The Assam Disturbed Area Act and The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act are a precondition for the restoration of democratic process and for its credibility and legitimacy.

This report is an attempt to document and reflect on this process in Assam in a hope that those who suggest, seek or support army intervention in civilian social conflicts will pause and think.