GUWAHATI, Jan 23 � The police and security forces all over Assam have been alerted to thwart possible strikes by the hard line faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) after receiving some �disturbing inputs� on the plans of the outfit to create disturbance during the Republic Day celebrations.
Highly placed police sources told The Assam Tribune that the hard line faction of the ULFA might not have the strength to create much trouble throughout the State, but the possibility of the militants planting a few explosives cannot be ruled out.
Sources revealed that according to intelligence inputs, the ULFA hard line faction does not have shortage of weapons and explosives, but the outfit is suffering from shortage of trained manpower to carry out sabotage. In the past, the hard line faction of the ULFA, which has good relation with Manipur based militant group PLA and others, tried to use the members of the PLA and other Manipur based outfits to carry out sabotage. But the attempts failed due to strict vigil by the police and security forces.
According to information gathered by the police, the hard line faction of the ULFA, which is desperately trying to indulge in some kind of major action to make its presence felt, would now again try to engage members of other militant outfits to trigger off explosions. �The possibility of the ULFA seeking help from the Jehadi elements to plant bombs cannot be ruled out and all the men in uniform will have to keep close watch on the situation to prevent any such attempt by the outfit,� sources added.
Police said that the ULFA is also engaging miscreants to plant bombs and to lob grenades. Sources revealed that recently, one miscreant was arrested by police when he tried to plant a bomb on behalf of the ULFA in upper Assam. During questioning, the arrested miscreant admitted that he was paid an amount of Rs 50,000 as advance and he was promised another amount of Rs 2 lakh on successful completion of the job.
Sources also said that though the hard line faction of the ULFA managed to recruit some youths in last few months, most of those are not well trained to carry out subversive activities.
