Suspected United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) militants exploded a low-intensity crude bomb at Jagun Bazar under Jagun Police Station and near Tirap Colliery in Tinsukia district on Friday morning when the State was celebrating 69th Republic Day.
However, no casualty has been reported so far.
Talking to Northeast Now, Tinsukia Superintendent of Police (SP) Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said, “We suspect ULFA (I) behind the blasts. The blasts were low intensity and the insurgent group has outsourced it.”
Mahanta also said, “They (ULFA-I) have used time device in the blasts. The main motive of the blasts was to show their presence in the area.”
The Tinsukia SP further said that counter-insurgency operation has been going on along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border at Tinsukia.
Sources also said the ULFA-I triggered the blasts to show their presence in the area. “Through such blasts they (ULFA-I) try to create panic among people which will help to extort money from businessmen,” sources claimed.
Unlike previous years, the ULFA-I this year made a call to boycott the 69th Republic Day in the State through a video message, wherein the cadres of the outfit were seen burning the National Flag. The cadres also displayed anti-India placards. In the video the ULFA-I cadres said that the “Republic Day is an insult to our motherland”.
On January 16, nine crude oil tankers were set ablaze by a suspected group of ULFA(I) and NSCN(IM) militants at Namchik checkgate under Jagun Police Station in Tinsukia district.
“Republic Day celebrations are being reported from various areas of upper Assam wherein the people from all sections of life including school children participated. ULFA (I) has desperate attempt to target the low populace with few low intensity crude bomb. The blast did not result any kind of damages to life and property. The ongoing celebration, despite the appeal to boycott the national event by ULFA (I) truly reflects the resolve of the people of Assam towards peace and harmony,” the army stated in a press release.
On the other hand, security forces have launched a major operation in Tinsukia district along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border near Jagun following an attack on a unit of the Assam Rifles on Sunday night.
As per sources a six-member highly-armed ULFA-I group attacked the Jairampur Battalion of Assam Rifles near the Kotha Reserve Forest area at night on Sunday.