A bunch of young Assamese men gathered in Sivasagar's Rang Ghar. It was the late 1970s, and they believed Assam was not receiving what it deserved from the central government. They believed that the only option to reclaim their rights was to take a different political course.

On April 7, 1979, they created the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) with the purpose of establishing an independent Assam free of Central government authority. Over the next decade, the group evolved from a minor militant organization into a major political and security threat to the state. They were responsible for assassinations, kidnappings, extortion, and clashes with security personnel.

ULFA was created by three young Assamese men: Arabinda Rajkhowa, Paresh Baruah, and Anup Chetia. The organization saw itself as a defender of Assamese identity and a fighter against perceived exploitation by the central government. Many of its founders had been involved in student organisations such as the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), which advocated for Assamese nationalism and against illegal immigration.
Initially low-profile, ULFA rose to prominence during the 1983 Assam Agitation, when it enforced poll boycotts alongside AASU and later claimed that armed struggle was necessary for Assam's liberation. The agitation (1979-1985) was organised by student groups who denounced illegal immigration from Bangladesh with strikes and demonstrations.The 1983 assembly elections, held despite turmoil and boycott calls, resulted in the Nellie massacre, which killed over 2,000 Bengali Muslims in Nagaon.
The movement concluded with the 1985 Assam Accord, which stated that anyone who arrived after March 25, 1971, would be considered an illegal immigrant.
ULFA capitalised on public resentment with economic marginalisation. They claimed that Assam's resources, including oil, tea, lumber, and forest richness, were being exploited without proper compensation or local development.
Under the Asom Gana Parishad government, which was created in 1985, ULFA increased its influence. It maintained a parallel administration, collecting taxes, issuing permits, and resolving disputes.
The organization funded itself by extortion and kidnapping, targeted non-Assamese groups, and recruited a huge number of rural youngsters.ULFA began robbing banks in the mid-1980s and targeted security people, politicians, and civilians, particularly Bihar migrants. Control over resources like tea gardens and timber ensured consistent income.
In 1996, it established the Sanjukta Mukti Fauj (SMF), its military wing. ULFA also operated training camps in Bangladesh and Bhutan and maintained ties with other insurgent groups.
In 1990, the Centre began Operation Bajrang, a leadership and infrastructure-focused initiative. Several leaders fled.
The government officially banned ULFA the same year under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. At the time, Assam was also designated as a "disturbed state," and President's Rule was imposed to quell the insurgency.

ULFA's power has faded over the decades, yet the organization has not dissolved. Factions have split, some commanders have surrendered, and former militants have entered mainstream politics. Drishti Rajkhowa, a former ULFA deputy commander, joined the BJP in 2025, stating a preference for development over politics.

As Assam prepares for the 2026 assembly elections on April 9, security experts fear that a possible collaboration between ULFA-I, a splinter unit, and other militant organisations could try to disrupt the vote.