GUWAHATI, Oct 1 � Police and security forces have been kept on high alert to thwart any possible attempt by the militants to indulge in acts or violence during the festival season.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that there were inputs about possible attempts by the militants to indulge in acts of violence during the festival season. Sources said that according to inputs available, both the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are desperate to make their presence felt with acts of violence. The security forces are the prime targets of the militants and it is doubtful whether they would target the common people at this moment.
Sources said that according to information available, the ULFA(I) managed to smuggle in around seven to eight improvised explosive devices (IED) to the State. The outfit, however, does not have adequate trained manpower and they may use hired persons to plant the IEDs on the roads frequented by the security forces. �There are hardly any trained manpower of the ULFA(I) inside Assam and one group is sitting in the Mon district of Nagaland. It is doubtful whether the ULFA members would dare to come inside Assam from Nagaland and there is every possibility of them using linkmen to plant IEDs,� sources added.
Security sources said that the ULFA(I) is facing desperate shortage of funds as those receiving demands are refusing to pay. Under the circumstances, the outfit is desperate to prove its strength by indulging in acts of violence, sources said.
On the other hand, after suffering serious setbacks in recent times, the NDFB (S) is desperate to hit back. The outfit lost several of its members in counter insurgency operations and the cadres are desperate to hit back, particularly against the police and security forces. However, the outfit may also look for soft targets as it had done in the past, sources said.
