Guwahati, Sept 22: The Assam Police have apprehended 15 individuals, including three women, in relation to a bomb-planting incident on Independence Day linked to the banned United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (ULFA-I). The arrests took place on Saturday, supported by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after extensive intelligence operations.
Coordinated raids were executed across multiple districts, with suspects detained in Tinsukia, Sadiya, Nagaon, Nalbari, Tamulpur, as well as in Jorhat and Guwahati. Three individuals were also arrested in Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur. Preliminary interrogations have yielded incriminating information, and authorities anticipate uncovering more details about the conspiracy through further questioning.
This wave of arrests follows earlier detentions, including two suspects linked to ULFA-I bombings in the Azara area of Guwahati. Additionally, Jorhat police previously arrested Manab Kalita, who allegedly admitted to planting bombs at four sites in Guwahati on Independence Day.
On August 15, ULFA-I claimed responsibility for explosives planted at over 20 locations across Assam, including eight in Guwahati. In response, law enforcement recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from various sites in the city, such as Gandhi Basti, Panbazar, Narengi, and Lastgate, as well as in Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, and Nagaon districts.
Due to the increasing threat, the Director General of Police (DGP) has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the bombings and announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for information leading to additional arrests.
