The Assam Police on Friday arrested two active members of the banned militant group United Liberation Front of Independent Asom (ULFA-I) in an intelligence operation in Tinsukia district.
The two were arrested during a joint operation by Tinsukia police and NBI agencies in Gajon Bazar area of the district. The police identified Homnjyoti Baruah (27), alias Siur Asom, a resident of Panetola, and Babu Moran (30), alias Manoj Asom, a resident of Baghjan. Both were self-appointed second lieutenants of ULFA-I.
Police said on Saturday that the duo planned to carry out indiscriminate firing and grenade attacks on civilians in Tinsukia town.
According to Mayank Kumar, chief inspector of Tinsukia police, the plan was to fire first in a crowded area of the town before throwing grenades to create panic among civilians.
“They came up with a plan to open fire on civilians in a populated area in Tinsukia town. After firing, they were going to explode bombs in a densely populated public place,” Kumar said.
He added that timely intelligence and coordinated actions by the police and central agencies prevented the attack before it could be carried out.
According to the SSP, the duo entered Assam from ULFA-I camps in Myanmar via Girampur district in Arunachal Pradesh before they were intercepted while traveling in a four-wheeler.
He said that during the operation, the police recovered two AK-56 rifles, 172 rounds of AK series live ammunition, two hand grenades, backpacks, food supplies meant for long-term survival in the jungle, a medicine kit containing syringes and opioid-based medicines, cash and other logistical materials during the operation.
Kumar said the two men have been active members of the group since 2018 and were involved in several major incidents linked to the insurgency, including attacks on Jagaon Commando Camp and Kakupathar Army Camp, besides cases of kidnapping.
“They were part of almost all the recent attacks carried out by the ULFA-I in Assam, and this time the plan was much bigger,” Kumar said.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, the police said. The two defendants are still in police custody, and investigations are still ongoing.
The ULFA-I, led by Paresh Baruah, is the only faction of the insurgent group to remain apart from peace talks with the Center and the Assam government. The group continues to operate from camps along the India-Myanmar border, and security agencies have linked it to several militant attacks in Assam.
