NIA chargesheets ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah in Guwahati IED plot
Synopsis
On Independence Day 2024, an IED was recovered in Guwahati's Panbazar area — and the NIA now alleges it was part of a wider ULFA-I conspiracy to detonate multiple blasts across Assam. The chargesheet naming Paresh Baruah, who operates from abroad, marks the first formal legal action in a case that targeted India's sovereignty on its most symbolic national day.
Key Takeaways
The NIA filed a chargesheet against ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah and four others before the NIA Special Court, Guwahati .
The case relates to an IED recovered on Motilal Nehru Road, Panbazar, Guwahati on 15 August 2024 — Independence Day.
The alleged conspiracy involved executing multiple blasts across Assam to spread terror and wage war against India.
Accused also named: Kanak Ch Gogoi , Jahnu Boruah , Bhargab Gogoi , and Sumu Gogoi .
Case re-registered by NIA on 27 February 2025 as RC-01/2025/NIA/GUW ; further investigation is ongoing.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) chief Paresh Baruah and four others before the NIA Special Court in Guwahati, in connection with the recovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) on Motilal Nehru Road in the Panbazar area of Guwahati on 15 August 2024 — Independence Day. The alleged conspiracy, according to the agency, was aimed at executing multiple IED blasts across Assam to wage war against the Government of India and spread terror among the public.
Who Has Been Charged
Besides Paresh Baruah — the chairman and self-styled Commander-in-Chief of the proscribed outfit — the chargesheet names Kanak Ch Gogoi (alias Aisheng Asom), Jahnu Boruah, Bhargab Gogoi, and Sumu Gogoi. The five accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
What the NIA Alleges
According to the agency, the accused conspired to detonate multiple explosives at different locations across Assam, with the alleged intent to cause casualties, injure civilians, and damage or destroy property. Investigators further allege that the plot was designed to threaten India's unity, integrity, security, and sovereignty. The IED was recovered from Panbazar on 15 August 2024, the same day as the country's Independence Day celebrations — a detail investigators say was deliberate.
How the Investigation Progressed
The case was first registered at Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati on 16 August 2024 under Case No. 202/2024, a day after the recovery of the suspected device. The NIA subsequently re-registered the matter on 27 February 2025 as RC-01/2025/NIA/GUW and assumed full charge of the investigation. This marks the first formal chargesheet in the case, though the agency has stated that further investigation remains ongoing.
Background: ULFA-I and Assam's Insurgency
ULFA-I, led by Baruah from an undisclosed location abroad, has long been associated with armed separatist activities in Assam. The outfit was proscribed by the Indian government as an unlawful organisation, and it has remained distinct from the faction that entered peace talks with New Delhi. This is not the first time Baruah has faced NIA action — the agency has previously pursued cases linking him to arms procurement and cross-border networks. The Independence Day timing of the alleged IED planting, if established in court, would represent a calculated act of symbolic provocation.
What Comes Next
With the chargesheet now before the NIA Special Court in Guwahati, the court is expected to take cognisance and frame charges in the coming weeks. Baruah, who is believed to be operating from outside India, is unlikely to appear before the court in the near term, raising questions about trial proceedings. The NIA's continuing investigation suggests more accused could be added in a supplementary chargesheet.
Point of View
It signals ULFA-I's intent to use symbolic spectacle as a terror instrument. Baruah's continued absence from Indian soil remains the central legal obstacle, and this trial, like past NIA proceedings against him, risks becoming a protracted process in absentia. The broader question is whether this chargesheet accelerates pressure on the foreign state where Baruah is believed to be sheltering — something the government has so far pursued through diplomatic channels with limited visible result.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NIA chargesheet against Paresh Baruah about?
The NIA has charged ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah and four others for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to plant IEDs across Assam, starting with a device recovered in Panbazar, Guwahati on 15 August 2024. The chargesheet was filed before the NIA Special Court in Guwahati on 16 October 2026.
Who else has been named in the chargesheet besides Paresh Baruah?
The chargesheet names Kanak Ch Gogoi (alias Aisheng Asom), Jahnu Boruah, Bhargab Gogoi, and Sumu Gogoi alongside Baruah. All five are accused of conspiring to carry out multiple IED blasts across Assam.
Under which laws have the accused been charged?
The five accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. The charges relate to waging war against India, spreading terror, and unlawful activities.
When was the IED first recovered and how did the NIA get involved?
The IED was recovered from Motilal Nehru Road in Panbazar, Guwahati on 15 August 2024. The case was initially registered at Panbazar Police Station on 16 August 2024, and the NIA re-registered it on 27 February 2025 as RC-01/2025/NIA/GUW before taking over the investigation.
What is ULFA-I and why is Paresh Baruah significant?
ULFA-I (United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent) is a proscribed armed separatist organisation operating in Assam. Paresh Baruah is its chairman and self-styled Commander-in-Chief, believed to be based outside India, and has long been associated with insurgent activities and arms procurement in the region.
