Gogoi for intensified ops against ULFA's anti-talk faction

The Assam government has decided to intensify operations against the ULFA's anti-talk faction and asked all districts to beef up security arrangements in view of the possibility of more attacks ahead of the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations, an official Tuesday said.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had reviewed security arrangements with the top police officials and other security agencies Monday and held yet another meeting with the top police brass, including the state police chief, in his office Tuesday.

"The chief minister had instructed us to take up all necessary measures to thwart any such attempt by the militants to carry out subversive activities," said Director General of Police J.N. Choudhury after the meeting.

He said Gogoi had asked why CCTVs had not been installed at sensitive areas of the city.

"We have briefed him on the situation. The chief minister had said that all the sensitive areas in the city should be covered under 24X7 monitoring through CCTVs. He had also instructed that proper lighting be arranged at all vulnerable areas of the city," Choudhury told media persons.

The anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) had triggered a blast at Paltan Bazar area of the city on Sunday injuring at least 15 people, including two policemen.

Prior to Sunday's blast, the militants had triggered three blasts at Lakhimpur and Karbi Anglong districts killing one person and injuring several others last week.

Following the Sunday's blast, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration - under which Guwahati falls - had issued prohibitory orders restricting pillion riding with some exceptions and assembly of group of people in the city.

After Sunday's blast, Gogoi had announced that his government is going to appoint a police commissioner in Guwahati by Jan 26 - an announcement he had made after the Oct 30, 2008 serial blasts, but which is yet to be materialise.

Meanwhile, police sources said the government has also decided to seek the help of neighbouring states like Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh in carrying out anti-insurgency operations against the militants.

Some of the cadres of the militant outfits take shelter in Arunachal Pradesh and particularly in the Garo hills region of Meghalaya and carry out subversive activities in the state by hiring petty criminals. The operation against them would be launched soon in association with the police of the state concerned, the sources informed.