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, India
Cause of deathKilled by Assam Police & Indian Army
Other namesJayanta Medhi
Naren Deka [1]
Alma materGauhati University
Criminal charge(s)Revolution against Indian Federation

Heerak Jyoti Mahanta (Hirakjyoti Mahanta) (Hirak Jyoti Mahanta) (Assamese: (হীৰকজ্য়োতি মহন্ত) (হীৰক জ্য়োতি মহন্ত)) alias Jayanta Medhi alias Naren Deka (real name Heerak Jyoti Mahanta)) was the first Deputy Commander-in-Chief of ULFA. He was killed on the eve of 31 December 1991.[1][2]

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

Early life and education[]

Heerak Jyoti Mahanta was a student of Guwahati's renowned Cotton Collegiate and passed Bachelor of Science in physics under Gauhati University.[4]

Militancy life[]

Heerak Jyoti Mahanta completed his militancy training in Kachin with ULFA Chief Paresh Baruah and they returned to Assam in 1984.[5][6]

The 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, the commander-in-chief of the outfit. Subsequently, on the direction of Paresh Baruah, his movement was passed on to the Assam Police, which led to his death in a serene hillock.[7]

Death[]

On 31 December 1991, military intelligence received a tip-off about Heerak Jyoti Mahanta's hideout in Guwahati city. A huge team of the army made a quick operation and nabbed Mahanta's one of the security guards Moon Ali from a hotel in Fancy Bazaar of the city. Moon Ali's detention led the army to the house of Nripen Baruah in Geetanagar area, where Heerak and his two other security guards were taking shelter. The army encircled the house as Heerak was the real target. Heerak was unable to escape from the army's gherao and all three were detained by army.[3][8]

Heerak was taken to Geetanagar police station, where he was shot death. Most of the newspapers, however, argue that uncompromising Mahanta was killed by Army as he refused to relent even after being caught.[2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Attribute to Heerak Jyoti Mahanta – Man who won't be a forgotten History". Times of Assam. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Peace in pieces:What Government ought to do". Srimanta.org. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
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