Mrinal Hazarika (Assamese: মৃনাল হাজৰিকা) alias Plaban Phukan [1] is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam.

Commanders like Charan Majhi, Debojit Konwar, Palashmoni Rajbonshi, Ulum Bhuyan and Amar Tanti were already eliminated by security forces in separate encounters.

However, Bijoy Chinese, a close confidant of Paresh Baruah and Sujit Moran, the ‘B’ company commander, distanced themselves from the pro-ceasefire group.

Hazarika, along with his colleagues Dibakar Moran, Prabal Neog and Jiten Dutta have built up a popular movement for peace in the State.

They have addressed local organisations, held public meetings and road shows, and also issued numerous press statements asking the ULFA top brass to change their course.