Serial blasts by ULFA (I) rock Upper Assam on I-Day

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, August 16: If interl inputs are to be believed then there is an imminent rise of resentment and discontentment among the junior ranks of the Assam Police force in the wake of several irresponsible statements issued by senior IPS officers in the rank of IGP, aimed at a banned militant organization, which had led to the escalation of pre-Independence Day violence, thus forcing the ill-equipped force below the rank of IPS officers to fight militants armed with sophisticated arms. Notably, the Assam police is today equipped with age-old sten guns and carbines (Sterling submachine gun) of the Second World War period and AK-47 and 9 MM pistols that were inducted into the force only in the 90s.

It has been alleged that frustration and lack of coordition among officers has led to serious intelligence failure, which have been amply proved by the recent attacks on Hindi-speaking people in Tinsukia district on August 12 when suspected ULFA (I) militants actually maged to sneak into the Bahbon village under Philobari and fired indiscrimitely killing two, besides injuring six others. This was followed by an attack on a police barrack in Karbi Anglong on August 14 by KPLT militants that left one dead and seriously injuring another, besides militants triggering serial IED explosions at different places of Tinsukia and Charaideo district on August 15. In fact, the DGP Mukesh Sahay, while facing a volley of questions pertaining to the serial explosions, in Guwahati said, “We had intelligence inputs but not specific locations where militants may trigger IED blasts. We are trying all that is possible to contain the situation but one thing is clear that the ultras may be down but definitely not out.”

The serial blasts started early in the morning as the first explosion was reported at around 7:15 am from Tinsukia where one after another four blasts were triggered by suspected ULFA (I) rebels to intimidate people who came out in thousands to be a part of the 70th Independence Day celebrations.

A series of five explosions rocked upper Assam as the State geared up to celebrate India’s Independence Day with the first blast reported at 7:15 AM near the Indira Gandhi School at Laipuli situated on the outskirts of Tinsukia after which another IED went off in line no 6 of Badlabhata tea garden in Doomdooma followed by another IED blast at Masuwa, said the police.

The fourth blast was reported from Gamtumati in Philobari where ULFA (I) militants mowed down Hindi-speaking people. The fifth and the last blast of the serial explosion took place at Pothaligorh under Tengapukhuri outpost of Charaideo district. The spot of the explosion was just a few metres away from the residence of the pro-talk ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, besides the ULFA desigted camp.

Meanwhile, the banned ULFA on August 15 hoisted the organization’s flag in Mariani in Jorhat district close to the galand border. Police recovered a banner from Morongial village under Deberapara Outpost of Mariani Police station showing the red sun symbol of the organization and cautioning the Hindi-speaking people to be alert. Police sources informed that the both the flag and the banner was planted with an aim to carry out extortion and that it was the handiwork of someone working at the behest of ULFA. The ULFA flag was hoisted in between 200 to 300 metres of the Assam-galand border.