Assam police has launched massive crackdown against ULFA (I) cadres, linkmen and sympathizers in the Upper Assam ahead of the Independence Day.
Police arrested 15 ULFA (I) cadres, linkmen and sympathisers during the last four days.
Security forces launched operation against the banned outfit to ensure successful celebrations of the Independence Day across the state.
Acting on a tip-off, police launched an operation and arrested two ULFA (I) cadres and one linkman from Sivasagar district of Upper Assam on Saturday.
The arrested persons were identified as Babu Tamuli, Biren Chetia and Arun Raidhingia.
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Babu and Biren were ULFA (I) cadres, and were arrested from Bokta Borpiyal area of Demow. One Chinese-made hand grenade was recovered from their possession.
Arun Raidhingia, a suspected ULFA (I) linkman, was picked up from Masoi area of Sivasagar.
Another ULFA (I) cadre, identified as Biman Gogoi alias Jeet Asom was nabbed by the police from Sonari in Charaideo district on Saturday.
Police said Bimal Gogoi had joined the outfit two years ago and had undergone arms training at Taga camp in Myanmar.
Two ULFA (I) linkmen were arrested at Panitola in Tinsukia on Friday night. They have been identified as Champak Baruah and Dishank Gogoi.
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Both Champak and Dishank had burnt Indian flag and had hosted ULFA (I) flag.
Tinsukia SP Siladitya Chetia said the ULFA linkmen had stated operation in the bordering area of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
“We have tightened security along the border area, and introduced night patrolling in the area,” Chetia said.
The SP said security forces are working in tandem for the smooth and peaceful celebration of the Independence Day.
Earlier, Dhemaji police arrested four ULFA (I) linkmen from North Dhemaji area along Assam- Arunachal border on Thursday.
They were identified as Parthajeet Konwar, Mrinal Phukan, Janak Baruah and Uday Duwara. Parthajeet and Mrinal were from Dhemaji.
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Janak is from Dibrugarh while Uday is from Golaghat district of upper Assam.
Police seized a motorbike, four mobile handsets, ULFA (I) flag, sharp weapon and a roll of black clothes and some incriminating documents from their possession.
According to police, the ULFA (I) militants used the forests at Laipuliya of North Dhemaji area along Assam- Arunachal Pradesh border as a safe hideout.
Sources said the ULFA (I) has been targeting the youths of Upper Assam to lire them to join the outfit.
Every year, the banned outfit tries to carry out hit-and-run operations during the run up to the Independence Day.
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Dibrugarh police on Wednesday arrested four ULFA (I) linkmen from different areas of Upper Assam.
They were identified as Chayanika Kaman (a schoolteacher) from Golaghat, Kabita Kaman (a student) from Dibrugarh, Kanak Pegu(ICU technician in a private hospital of Dibrugarh) and Debajyoti Dowarah from Sasoni, Naharkatia.
Police seized ULFA (I) flags, Naxal literature and mobile phones from them.