3 men arrested for alleged plot to murder Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Pradip Gogoi, vice-chairman of the pro-talks faction of the rebel outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was arrested in Guwahati on Monday night. He is under custody of the crime branch of police.

Published on: Mar 9, 2021, 19:40:38 IST

By Utpal Parashar, Hindustan Times, Guwahati

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Three persons including a leader of the pro-talks faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have been arrested for an alleged conspiracy to murder senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam Police said Tuesday.

Guwahati: United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leader Pradip Gogoi, who was arrested on Monday night for allegedly readying the blueprint for assasination of BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, being produced at a CJM court for hearing, in Guwahati, Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (PTI Photo)(PTI03_09_2021_000125B) (PTI)

Pradip Gogoi, vice-chairman of the rebel outfit, which has been in talks with the government since 2011, was arrested from the Hatigaon area of Guwahati on Monday night. He is under custody of the crime branch of police.

"Gogoi and two others were arrested based on secret information about a conspiracy regarding Himanta Biswa Sarma. They were produced in a city court on Tuesday and remanded to three days of police custody," said Guwahati police commissioner MP Gupta.

According to reports, Gogoi had received a call from one Manab Pathak, another member of pro-talk ULFA, where they allegedly conspired to kill Sarma, a senior BJP leader who is the minister for education, health, finance and PWD in the Sarbananda Sonowal government.

The matter came to light after the police intercepted phone calls in which the accused discussed the plot. The police have also arrested Pathak and another youth, both from Karbi Anglong district, based on the phone conversation.

Police have tightened Sarma's security after the conspiracy was unearthed.

“Police are looking into the matter. The DGP had called me and asked me to be careful and the police have also taken action. That’s all I know,” Sarma told journalists on Tuesday.

Security has been tightened in Assam for the three-phase assembly election that begins on March 27. Sarma is the most high profile minister in the state who in spearheading the BJP's campaign to retain power.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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