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Security forces on high alert for I-Day celebrations

By R Dutta Choudhury - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

GUWAHATI, Aug 11 - The State Government�s decision to celebrate the Independence Day with a three-day programme has added to the worries of the police and security forces, more so following intelligence inputs that a few groups of militants managed to sneak into the State from their camps in Myanmar to create disturbance during the celebrations. Moreover, though there is no input about any threat from jehadi elements during the celebrations, the security forces are keeping a close watch on that front also as the threat perception cannot be overlooked.

Highly placed police sources told The Assam Tribune that the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) militants are being helped by the members of the NSCN(K) and both the outfits are trying to go for joint operations, particularly in upper Assam districts. Sources said that according to intelligence inputs, a few groups of ULFA(I) militants, along with NSCN(K) ultras, managed to sneak into upper Assam districts and they are desperate to strike.

Sources said that ULFA(I) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah is under pressure from other groups to make the outfit�s presence felt, and he, in turn, has issued strict instructions to his cadres. Two senior members of the ULFA(I) � Arunodoi Dohotiya and Nayan Medhi � are just across the international border in Myanmar and they are constantly in touch with the militants who managed to sneak into the State.

The security forces managed to intercept some of the instructions given by the two senior members to the ultras on the ground and it is evident that the outfit would try to go for grenade and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts.

The groups of ultras managed to sneak into Assam through Nagaland with the help of the NSCN(K), but in a few cases, militants also sneaked through the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. All the forces on the ground have been kept on high alert and they are informed immediately whenever any input is received or communication between ultras is intercepted. �We do not think that the ULFA(I) has the capacity to hit security forces and they may try to go for soft targets to make their presence felt,� sources added.

Sources admitted that the responsibility of the police and security forces has increased manifold with the government deciding to celebrate the Independence Day for three days. As such programmes will be held right down to the circle level, the forces would have to be extra careful, sources admitted.

To prevent blasts from taking place in marketplaces, the district police forces are holding regular meetings with the office-bearers of the market committees to brief them about the care that needs to be taken. The parade grounds of the Independence Day celebrations have already been taken over by the police, sources added.

On the possible threat from the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB-S), sources said that the outfit is also desperate to indulge in acts of violence and a few members of the outfit are reportedly moving around in the districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Sonitpur. A few newly trained members of the outfit also managed to enter Assam from Myanmar. The security forces are on high alert to thwart any attempt by the outfit to indulge in violence. But, at the same time, sources admitted that it is difficult to get inputs about �lone wolf attacks� like the recent one in Kokrajhar, in which 14 persons were killed.

On the threat from jehadi elements, sources admitted that there is no input as of now about any threat from such elements during the Independence Day celebrations. But the threat perception is not being overlooked, sources added.