Assam DGP Warns of Possible Rebel Action

NEW DELHI: In a latest revelation by the Assam police, Khagen Sarma, Assam Director General (DG) of police said that rebel groups ULFA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were planning attacks between Christmas, Dec 25 and Republic Day, January 26.

Intelligence inputs received by the police suggests that ULFA (Independent) and NDFB’s Songbijit faction may organise various bandhs and strikes during the festive season, he informed, during a press conference in Dispur.

Adding that the necessary measures have been taken to thwart such attempts by the militants, he said "Everyone has been asked to remain alert”.

It is pertinent to mention here that while ULFA (I) led by Paresh Barua is mostly active in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur and Goalpara districts of Assam, NDFB-S faction is active in the four Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri apart from Darrang and Sonitpur districts in central Assam.

The data tabled by the Government in the Assembly on Monday divulging the cadre strength of the militant groups in the state paints a dangerous picture. While the cadre strength of Ulfa (I) is 240, the strength of the NDFB (S) is between 250 and 270.

Furthermore, according to the State Home Department, three Islamic fundamentalist organisations are also active in the state. Among them, Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam has 140 cadres, while Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have 40 and 20 cadres respectively.

Only recently,10 alleged members of JMB, including Sahanur Alom - a key accused in the Burdwan blast case - were arrested from the state.

In a separate incident, troops of army's Red Horns Division apprehended one NDFB-S cadre in Sonitpur district today. Based on specific inputs provided by army intelligence, Assam Rifles personnel launched an operation at Tarajuli area of Sonitpur district and apprehended the militant, Sunil Musahary, 20, hailing from Rangapara area.

In another occurrence, the police last night arrested a suspected foreigner who was running a madarsa on a sar (riverine) area in Nalbari district. He claimed to have a "doctoral degree from Oxford University".

The police suspect he illegally entered the country from Bangladesh through the porous border. The police are also probing his possible links with fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh, like the JMB.

Keeping in mind these recent developments, the police warnings and alerts further harbours fear and anxiety amongst the people of the state.