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Security cover stepped up due to ultra threat

By R Dutta choudhury

GUWAHATI, March 27 � With the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) getting desperate to make their presence felt in the run-up to the elections, the candidates and leaders of the political parties have been requested to take adequate precautions in addition to the security cover provided to them. Meanwhile, the police and security agencies have come to know about a �hit list� prepared by the NDFB(S) and names of four political leaders have been included in the list.

Highly placed police sources told The Assam Tribune that following a state-level security review meeting, the candidates of the recognised political parties have been provided two PSOs each along with an escort party comprising a vehicle and four securitymen, while the candidates of non-recognised parties have been given two PSOs each. But the district superintendents of police have been asked to review the threat perception of each candidate and to provide additional security cover if required.

Sources said the candidates and leaders of the political parties have also been directed to take precautions on their own and not to move around in the vulnerable areas after dusk. Sources said that the candidates have also been requested not to move out without the PSOs and escort. The escort party will also act as house guards and the candidates are requested to make provisions for their accommodation. The candidates have also been requested to keep the local police stations informed about their movement plans.

Sources revealed that the NDFB (S) is very active in the districts of Sonitpur, Chirang, Udalguri and Kokrajhar. The activities of the members of the outfit are mostly restricted to the areas along the borders with Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. The police and security forces have come across an input of a �hit list� prepared by the militant outfit and it included names of four political leaders including that of Bhupen Bora, the Congress candidate for Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency. The others in the �hit list� include Congress legislator from Jorhat Rana Goswami, suspended AGP legislator Padma Hazarika and AGP legislator Prabin Hazarika. Sources said that the NDFB(S) was against Bora and Goswami since the days when they were working as Parliamentary Secretary (Home), while Padma Hazarika has always been vocal against the activities of the outfit. However, the reason for targeting Prabin Hazarika has not yet been known.

On the activities of the ULFA(I), sources said that the outfit does not have adequate trained manpower in the State to indulge in acts of violence. But the outfit is desperate to make its presence felt as the first phase of the election will be held on the foundation day of the outfit and the possibility of the outfit using hired persons to lob grenades cannot be ruled out. In the past also, the ULFA(I) used hired people to lob grenades.

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