ULFA(I) bid to target civilians foiled, two militants held with arms in Assam
Guwahati, June 27 (IANS) Two alleged cadres of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) were arrested in a major intelligence-based operation in Assam’s Tinsukia district, with officials saying on Saturday that the duo was allegedly planning to carry out an attack on civilians.
According to officials, the operation was conducted jointly by the Tinsukia Police with assistance from central security agencies at Jagun on Friday night following specific intelligence inputs.
The arrested persons have been identified as Humenjyoti Baruah, alias Siyor Asom (27), a resident of Panitola, and Papu Moran, alias Manoj Asom (30), from Baghjan.
Police said both are self-styled second lieutenants of the proscribed outfit.
Officials said a preliminary investigation revealed that the two had allegedly entered Assam from Myanmar through Jairampur in Arunachal Pradesh before moving towards Tinsukia. Acting on intelligence, security personnel intercepted their Swift car at Jagun Bazaar and took them into custody.
During the operation, police recovered two AK-56 assault rifles, 172 rounds of AK-series ammunition, two hand grenades, backpacks, food supplies meant for survival in forest areas, a medical kit containing syringes and opioid-based medicines, besides other war-like stores.
Officials said the initial investigation indicates that the two militants had allegedly been assigned by ULFA(I) to execute an indiscriminate attack targeting civilians in Tinsukia town with the aim of spreading fear and panic among the public.
Investigators also suspect that the operational pattern and planning may point towards the involvement or influence of external elements attempting to destabilise the region. However, officials clarified that these findings are based on the preliminary stage of the investigation and are yet to be independently corroborated.
The arrested militants have been brought to Tinsukia for sustained interrogation to ascertain the wider conspiracy, possible local links and logistics support network.
Police have registered a case in connection with the recovery of arms and explosives, while further investigation is in progress to identify other individuals associated with the alleged plot.
–IANS
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