GUWAHATI: Two days ahead of Independence Day, Demow police in Sivasagar district have tasted some success in its crackdown against militancy.
On August 13, acting on an intelligence tip-off, they launched an operation in some parts of the district and arrested two individuals for having alleged connections with the banned United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (ULFA-I).
Identified as Dibyajyoti Chetia and Raju Ahmed, residents of Changmai village and Demow Dehajan Amtol, respectively, the police have detained the duo and seized some “objectionable” documents and a number of mobile phone from their possession.
Earlier on August 9, the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles and the Arunachal Pradesh police had apprehended a militant associated with the proscribed outfit from the border village of Nonglo, in Arunachal Pradesh.
The arrested individual was identified as Aparjit Nath alias Pankaj Asom. Nath hails from Basbari in Assam and is believed to be an active member of ULFA-I.
Interestingly, a day before the arrest in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had extended an unexpected invitation to Paresh Barua, chief of ULFA-I, for a seven-day stay in the state to witness the change that has come to Assam over the years. Sarma added that if Barua accepts the offer, he will provide him a safe passage and will facilitate his visit “… with full responsibility”.
Notably, the proscribed outfit has called for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday.
