Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: In a major intelligence-led counter-insurgency operation, Assam Police on Friday claimed to have averted a suspected mass-casualty terror attack with the arrest of two active cadres of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) at Jagun in Tinsukia district.
Officials alleged that the duo had been tasked with carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Tinsukia town to spread fear and destabilise the region.
The operation was carried out by Tinsukia Police with the assistance of central security agencies following specific intelligence inputs.
The arrested militants have been identified as SS 2nd Lt. Siyor Asom alias Humenjyoti Baruah (27) of Panitola and SS 2nd Lt. Manoj Asom alias Papu Moran (30) of Baghjan, both in Tinsukia district.
Police recovered a substantial cache of arms and war-like stores, including two AK-56 assault rifles, 172 rounds of AK-series ammunition, two hand grenades, backpacks, medicine kits, syringes, opioids, and food supplies reportedly meant for prolonged survival in jungle terrain.
According to an official press note, the preliminary investigation suggests that the two cadres had been assigned by ULFA (I) to target innocent civilians in Tinsukia.
Investigators also believe the alleged plot bears the imprint of external actors seeking to foment instability in the region.
Tinsukia district shares close proximity with the interstate corridor leading to Arunachal Pradesh and areas that security agencies have previously linked to insurgent transit routes connected to militant camps and hideouts along the Myanmar border.
These difficult forested and mountainous corridors have long posed operational challenges despite intensified surveillance by security forces.
Investigators are now probing the suspects’ operational network, the source of the weapons, their movement routes, and logistical support.
Legal proceedings have been initiated, while sustained interrogation is expected to provide crucial leads into the wider conspiracy and any cross-border links behind the alleged terror plot.
Police described the operation as a significant success in preventing what could have been a devastating attack.