GUWAHATI, July 9 - The State Government has been alerted about a move by the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) to send a team of its members to the State to indulge in acts of violence ahead of the Independence Day.
Meanwhile, the police and security forces are yet to get any clue about the five jehadi elements who reportedly sneaked into the State from Bangladesh recently.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that the security agencies recently managed to know about the ULFA(I) plan after intercepting a few calls of the senior leaders of the outfit, including its commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah. Sources revealed that the ULFA(I) is desperate to make its presence felt before the Independence Day and the outfit has chalked out a plan to create disturbance in the State.
As a part of the plan, the senior leaders of the outfit formed a team of cadres of the outfit. A few members of the team were from the main camp of the outfit in Taga area in Myanmar, while the other members were from other camps of the outfit in the neighbouring country.
Sources said that the group is now waiting in the Arunachal Pradesh-Myanmar border area and looking for an opportunity to sneak into Assam. The Central agencies have already alerted the State Government about the ULFA(I) plan so that adequate precautions can be taken by the police and security forces. The Assam Rifles has also been alerted to prevent the ultras from sneaking into India as the force is entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the international border with Myanmar.
Sources said that the primary target of the ULFA(I) would be the police or security personnel. However, sources said that the ULFA(I) does not have trained or committed cadres to engage the forces in a gun battle and it would rather try to plant improvised explosive devices (IED) on the roads frequented by security forces. However, the possibility of the ultras planting IEDs in public places out of desperation cannot be ruled out as well, and the forces will have to maintain close watch on the situation, sources added.
Sources further said that the ULFA(I), despite repeated attempts, had failed to indulge in any major violent activities in recent times, including during the last Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, on the reports of entry of five jehadi elements from Bangladesh, sources said that some villagers in South Garo Hills in Meghalaya had reported to the police recently that five unidentified youths, carrying backpacks, were seen in that area and they were asking people about the roads leading to Guwahati. The Meghalaya Police, which immediately launched an operation, could not trace the unidentified youths. The Meghalaya Police also alerted Assam Police and a close watch is being maintained. However, till date, no trace of the youths has been found.
