Police expands dragnet to more districts

TERROR LINKS

* One held in Karbi Anglong

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/NAGAON, Sept 23: Intensifying the search operations to unearth links of youths with terrorist outfits including Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Assam Police has extended its dragnet to several districts of the State. Besides, Hojai where HM first tried to expand its base, State Police has now started examining possible connections of the terrorist organizations at various places in Karbi Anglong and Barpeta districts as well. Guwahati being the gateway to the region is already under intense security surveillance.

Talking to media persons, State Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia said, “We have taken up the issue of terror links seriously. Inquiries based on evidences are currently on.”

On Saturday night, a team of Hojai Police along with local police arrested a youth on suspicion of having links with HM. He has been arrested from Mosoka No1 under Kheroni Police Station of Karbi Anglong district. The youth has been identified as Abhimanyu Chouhan, son of Sohan Chouhan of No3 Hatikhuli under Lumding Police Station. The total number of persons arrested for having connection with HM has now risen to eight.

On the other hand, sources informed that UP Police in all likelihood would be seeking custody of all the eight persons now in Assam Police custody to further find out their links with Qamar-uz-Zaman held earlier in Kanpur. Assam Police will seek custody of Qamar who hails from Hojai district in central Assam. . At the same time, Assam Police is working on various inputs supplied by UP Police with reference to HM and its possible connections in Assam.

Another team of Hojai Police with close coordination of Guwahati Police carried out a search operation in the Hatigaon area of the city on Saturday night. Meanwhile, though three persons were picked up by Hojai Police from different parts of Barpeta district on Saturday, following questioning they were later released.

Assam Police is already working on a mechanism with gaonburahs and Village Defence Parties (VDPs) to keep track of youths going out of the State so that they do not eventually engage themselves in any anti-national activities.