The Assam Government has sounded an alert across the State and intensified security deployment following intelligence inputs that the anti-talk faction of the Ulfa militants might try to carry out subversive activities in the run-up to the Independence Day.
The alert assumes significance keeping in view of the recovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) from Mangaldai in Darrang district on Friday. The cadre of the outfit, led by its elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, had already triggered three blasts-two in lakhimpur district on Tuesday and one in Karbi Anglong on Thursday-injuring several civilians.
On Wednesday some arms and ammunition, supposed to be delivered to anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland in Indo-Bhutan border in Chirang district were also recovered by police. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had on Wednesday cancelled his 10-day long official visit to South Africa considering the law and order situation and he reviewed the State’s law and order situation at his residence on Friday.
“There are inputs that the anti-talk faction might try to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the run-up to the August 15 celebrations. They have already carried out blasts in lakhimpur and Karbi Anglong. We are also informed that the militants have been instructed by their top brass to attack the police and security forces,” said a senior official of the Assam police adding that adequate measures have been taken to stop any such move by the militants.
“Calling a bandh on functions like August 15 and January 26 had been a tradition for militant outfits of the region including the Ulfa. Besides, the anti-talk faction might also want to disrupt the Government’s peace efforts with one faction of the Ulfa led by Arabinda Rajkhowa,” said the official.