SUMMARY

In fighting for more self-governance for the Bodo people in Assam BLTF has not only used violence against security forces and the state, but also made use of one-sided violence against civilians.

The main motivation behind the BLTF's violence against civilians has been thought to be a wish to destabilize the region of Assam through attacking infrastructure and non-Bodo civilians. BLTF has made use of assassinations, bombings, and kidnappings to this end and to erode the legitimacy of Indian authority. Attacks on civilians do not always target non-Bodos, but such groups are the most targeted, presumably due to BLTF's wish to ensure that power will be vested in the Bodo people.

In terms of tactics BLTF has primarily made use of bombings, mainly against public transport, and ambushes against small groups of civilians (primarily non-Bodos). BLTF has mainly operated in the western areas of Assam.

BLTF first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 1996, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in December that year when the group bombed a crowded commuter train near Kokrajhar in Assam.