R–Day run–up: Khapara playground a veritable Fort Knox

Besides the ULFA, the state police is apprehensive of attacks from the Gorkha tiol Liberation Army  (GL), NDFB(S), KLO and others in the run–up or during the Republic Day celebrations. The threat from Jehadis, as the state DGP said yesterday, is always there. The threat from Jehadis is suspected to be more significant than ever since US president Barak Obama is coming to an India trip during the Republic Day celebrations.

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, January 24: The Veteriry College playground at Khapara in Guwahati is a veritable Fort Knox. With the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and many other underground organizations calling Assam bandh from 7 pm of January 25 to the evening of January 26, all vehicular traffic and pedestrians going to the area are being thoroughly checked.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is going to hoist the tiol Flag at Khapara on the Republic Day to be celebrated centrally at the playground by the state government.

Besides the ULFA, the state police is apprehensive of attacks from the Gorkha tiol Liberation Army  (GL), NDFB(S), KLO and others in the run–up or during the Republic Day celebrations. The threat from Jehadis, as the state DGP said yesterday, is always there. The threat from Jehadis is suspected to be more significant than ever since US president Barak Obama is coming to an India trip during the Republic Day celebrations. All these threats from different corners have kept the state police force on their toes.

With the GNLA being active along the Assam–Meghalaya border, the state police force had to seal the inter–state border at Jorabat and Khapara so as to prevent GNLA militants from entering the state. The state police is taking help from the CRPF.

Operation against the NDFB(S) is going on, and the outfit is also engaged in its hunt for soft targets. Some NDFB(S) militants, who have been arrested recently by the police, have confessed that the outfit is planning to strike in the run–up and during the Republic Day celebrations. Intelligence inputs also say that the outfit is planning subversive activities because of the current operation against it.

Since the State Government is going to centrally observe the Republic Day at the  Khapara Veteriry Playground, security has been tightened in and around the city. Vehicles plying on all routes to Guwahati are being checked at least thrice before entering the city. At Khapara in Guwahati, even luggage of pedestrians are checked. A search operation by the police is going on in full swing in areas like Panjabari, Khapara, Koidhora hill side etc. The link road to the Khapara Veteriry Field from NH–37 via Jayagar has been closed from today, barring emergency situations. Barring women and senior citizens, pillion riding has been banned in the city so as to prevent grede throw as suspected by the police.

Elsewhere in the city, all routes leading to the airport, Guwahati railway station, sar areas like Panikhaiti etc., are being searched thoroughly.

With the Saraswati Puja falling on January 25, the police may face a harrowing time to keep watch on subversive activities as there will be rush of people, mostly students, during the puja.    

Meanwhile, with a view to facilitating the participants for attending the Republic Day function at Khapara Veteriry Playground on January 26, the ASTC City Service will operate its special service from different points of Guwahati to Khapara on that day. This arrangement has been made in addition to the existing service.

The route details of the special service are – Jalukbari to Khapara via ISBT, Jalukbari to Khapara via Paltanbazar, Pandu to Khapara via Paltanbazar, Churchfield to Khapara via Paltanbazar, Churchfield to Khapara via Chandmari, Noonmati to Khapara via Chandmari and Zoo Road, Forest Gate to Khapara via VIP Road and Sixmile, Lokhra to Khapara via Kahilipara and Dispur, Paltanbazar to Khapara via Lalganesh and Lokhra, Basistha to Khapara, and ISBT to Khapara via Lalganesh and Kahilipara.