Criminal status Killed | Name Heerak Mahanta | |
 | ||
Full Name Heerak Jyoti Mahanta Other names Jayanta MedhiNaren Deka Criminal charge Revolution against Indian Federation Parent(s) Ratnapati Mahanta(Father), Bimala Mahanta(Mother) Died December 31, 1991, Guwahati | ||
Heerak Jyoti Mahanta (Assamese: হীৰক জ্যোতি মহন্ত) was the deputy C-in-C of ULFA, the banned terrorist outfit of Assam. He was killed by the Army on 31 December 1991. He was said to be one of the hardcore cadre of the outfit. He strongly opposed any kind of surrendering 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. Raju Baruah took over the charge of deputy C-in-C after his death.
The conspiracy
In the late 1990s, Mahanta became very powerful. He openly criticised the policies of the central leadership of ULFA and posed a potential threat to Paresh Baruah, the C-in-C 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. Most of the newspapers, however, argue that uncompromising Mahanta was killed by Army as he refused to relent even after being caught.