Four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in a bus by Assam Police and officials suspect the ULFA was trying to smuggle the devices into Guwahati to carry out attacks.
Police found the IEDs in the overnight bus bound for Guwahati during a search at Hijuguri in Tinsukia town of upper Assam on Friday night.
Officials said they suspected the outlawed faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom opposed to talks was trying to smuggle the IEDs into Guwahati for “major subversive activities ahead of the Independence Day celebrations” on August 15.
A police official said a general alert was sounded across Assam about possible efforts by the ULFA-I to trigger blasts ahead of Independence Day. Measures have been taken to foil attacks by the militants, the official said.
The bus was coming from a region of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Dhola in Tinsukia district. The area was a stronghold of the ULFA till 2010.
Though the group’s activities in Tinsukia district have declined in recent years, there are reports that the ULFA is making efforts to revive its base in the area.
Though the group’s activities in Tinsukia district have declined in recent years, there are reports that the ULFA is making efforts to revive its base in the area.
Since its inception in 1979, the ULFa has asked people in Assam to boycott the Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations in the state.