NIA Detains ULFA-I Member for Explosive Planting in Guwahati on Independence Day
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Guwahati, Dec 16 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken into custody a significant operative from the banned terrorist organization, ULFA (I), for his role in placing explosives in Guwahati during this year's Independence Day celebrations, as confirmed by officials.
The individual arrested has been named as Jahnu Baruah, also known as Arnab Axom.
A statement indicated: "NIA teams, with strong support from Assam Police, executed searches at the residence of Jahnu Baruah @ Arnab Axom in Dibrugarh as part of an intelligence-driven operation conducted in the early hours of the morning. Various incriminating items, including digital devices, were confiscated and are currently under analysis. He has been called to the local police station for further questioning."
"During the initial inquiry, the accused admitted to his participation in planting four of the eleven Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that were uncovered by the state police during the Independence Day celebrations," the statement continued.
The IEDs were placed as a component of the military protest and boycott call for Independence Day issued by ULFA-I Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah.
As per officials, Jahnu Baruah had planted the four IEDs at Pan Bazar, Dispur, Gandhi Mandap, and Satgaon areas in Guwahati, and had been under close observation for several weeks.
He was identified as one of the suspects by the NIA based on both technical and human intelligence, linked to the collection and transportation of the IEDs intended to cause significant explosions in Assam during the Independence Day celebrations, which could lead to property damage and loss of life, instigating terror in the region.
The NIA assumed control of the investigation from the state police in September.
To recall, multiple locations in Assam faced a wave of bomb threats on August 15 after the banned militant organization United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) claimed they had planted detonating bombs in 25 locations statewide.
These included Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Nagaon, and several spots in Guwahati. Reports indicated that ULFA-I had placed explosives in at least eight locations within Guwahati city.
The outlawed organization stated that due to technical failures, 'the explosives did not detonate'.
According to an announcement from ULFA-I, their objective was to engage in violent protests by triggering the explosives during the Independence Day celebrations.
However, between 6 a.m. and 12 noon, "technical failures" thwarted the bombs from exploding as planned.
A list detailing the targeted areas and images of certain bomb sites, including one near the state secretariat in Dispur in Guwahati, were also released by ULFA-I.
