By Our Staff Reporter
Guwahati, June 20: Ahead of the annual Ambubachi festival at the historic Kamakhya temple here, an Ulfa militant was arrested and following his leads a powerful bomb was recovered by security forces.
A joint team of police, army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recovered the powerful improvised explosive device (IED) from Khamukh area near Jalukbari in the early hours of Saturday, police commissioner Mukesh Agarwalla said.
Police said the IED, weighing about one kg, was recovered following a revelation by the cadre of the anti-talk faction of the Ulfa, who was arrested on Friday night from Boko near Guwahati.
Agarwalla said that police received intelligence inputs that some anti-social elements might try to create "disturbance" during the Ambubachi festival, which begins on Monday.
Apparently, the bomb was brought to be planted in the city to disrupt the festivities, police said.
A large number of devotees have already thronged the historic shrine located atop the Nilachal Hill in the city. Organizers expect over 10 lakh visitors during the festival.
"We had inputs that some elements might try to target the Kamakhya temple, particularly in the run-up to the Ambubachi festival. We have intensified security in and around the temple as well as across the city due to the threat perception and have put the forces on alert to thwart any such attempt by the militants," Agarwalla said.
Ulfa cadre Dipak Rabha, who revealed the information, was released from jail earlier this month. He had been arrested from Azara area, while he was carrying extortion money amounting to Rs.8.5 lakh from Guwahati to South Salmara, police said.