Claim to have planted bombs at 24 places in Assam, 2 IED-like objects found in Guwahati; Who is ULFA-I? – hindustannewshub.com

The banned United Liberation of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) on Thursday claimed that it had planted bombs at 24 places across the state on Independence Day, creating panic among the police and the public. Police bomb squads conducted searches at several places and recovered several bomb-like objects. There was no explosion at any place and no one was injured.

The bomb threat became public after the outfit mentioned it in a statement sent to some media houses in the state. In an email sent to media houses, including PTI, the ULFA (I) claimed that its bombs did not explode due to a “technical problem”.

“An armed protest was planned to be held on August 15 from 6 am to 12 noon. Due to technical glitches, the programme could not be held as per schedule. Hence, keeping in view public safety, the venues of the protests have been made public,” said a statement issued by Ishan Asom (a fake name), a member of the ULFA-I’s propaganda wing.

The organisation named two locations each in Sibsagar and Lakhimpur, one each in Lakuwa, Dibrugarh, Laluk, Borghat, Nagaon, Nalbari and Tamulpur, and eight locations in Guwahati. The organisation said bombs were planted at five other locations in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Sarupathar – but did not reveal their exact locations.

The ULFA-I urged the public for cooperation in locating and defusing the bombs. Assam Police DGP GP Singh said searches were carried out at several places in search of explosive devices. “Suspicious objects were found at two places in Guwahati which were opened by the police bomb squad. These objects do not have ignition devices, some circuits and batteries have been seen. The material inside is being sent for forensic/chemical examination,” he said.

Similar items were also seen in Lakhimpur, Sibsagar, Nalbari and Nagaon, which were disposed of safely, he said. An investigation into the seizures has been launched. The ULFA-I, led by Paresh Barua and demanding a sovereign Assam, is the only major militant outfit in Assam that is not involved in peace talks with the Centre or has not signed a peace accord. The outfit regularly calls for boycott of Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations and has in the past planted small bomb-like devices at venues on these days.

What is ULFA(I) after all?

The full form of ULFA(I) or ULFA (Independent) is United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent). It is a banned organization active in Assam. Its main objective is to separate Assam from India and make it an independent nation. This organization has been involved in armed struggle and violent activities, due to which it has been declared a terrorist organization by the Government of India. ULFA(I) was founded in 1979 and prominent names among its founders include Paresh Barua and Arvind Rajkhowa.

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