Ministry of Home Affairs tells Assam to smarten up

Concerned over the regrouping of Paresh Baruah-led banned United Liberation Front of Assam, Independent (ULFA-I), the Ministry of Home Affairs has conveyed to the Assam government that it needs to enhance its intelligence gathering and security arrangements across the state to track and nab the perpetrators before they carry out a major strike.

“It is a matter of grave concern that ULFA-I is regrouping in Assam,” said a senior MHA official, adding that it is urgent to “re-strategise policies in the state” so that it does not create any problem. He added that the Myanmar army had recently launched a crackdown on insurgents over the Sagaing region, which shares its border with Nagaland, Manipur, and parts of Arunachal Pradesh and that it has hit them hard.  “It looks like they want to carry out an attack in India as it shares a very good relationship with Myanmar,” said the officer, adding that they are looking into all available possibilities. 

The concerns were raised after a grenade blast at Zoo Road in Guwahati on May 15 and fresh inputs from the Assam Police about further attacks. The local police had arrested two people in connection with the grenade attack and were sent to 10 days in police custody. The cops had also arrested ULFA leader Pranamoy Rajguru and television actress Jahnabi Saikia. The grenade blast on Wednesday had injured 12 people.

Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar had said, “ULFA-I led by Paresh Baruah is contacting the old cadres of the outfit to carry out their subversive activities.”  Kumar also said that currently, ULFA-I is weakened financially. “Today, the young generation of the state is focused on pursuing studies and securing a job. No one is interested in joining the banned outfit. So left with no choice, the ULFA-I is contacting the old cadres,” he said.

BLAST’S AFTERMATH

The concerns were raised after a grenade blast at Zoo Road in Guwahati on May 15 and fresh inputs from the Assam Police about further attacks. The local police had arrested two people in the case.