Guards frisks people on motorclcyes in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Feb. 18: Security has been beefed up in the state for the 12-hour Assam bandh called by Ulfa from 5.30am tomorrow in protest against the arrest of People’s Consultative Group (PCG) member Lachit Bordoloi.

Bordoloi was arrested last week for his alleged links with the militant outfit.

Home department sources said police and paramilitary forces would be deployed in urban areas while the army had been asked to keep a close watch on oil and gas installations, especially in Upper Assam.

At a high-level security meeting held at the police headquarters here, strict instructions were given to ensure that normal life was not disrupted.

“We are taking steps to ensure that normal life is not affected. At the same time, we appeal to the people to manifest the kind of courage they have been showing against bandhs called by the outfit in the past,” a senior police official said.

He said frisking and patrolling had been intensified and all the police stations in the state had been put on maximum alert. “Apart from this, normal crackdown against the outfit will go on as it is,” he added.

A staff officer attached to CRPF inspector-general Rajesh Kumar said all the companies of the paramilitary force deployed in the state had been put on high alert. The CRPF is mainly engaged in patrolling roads, frisking and special operations in the state.

An ONGC official said the company’s offices would function normally, but its fieldwork might be hit because of the bandh. “No worker would risk working in the remote areas in defiance of the bandh,” he added.

However, the Assam Gaurav Anamika Adarani Samiti, which has planned a grand welcome for the SaReGaMaPa Little Champs contestant, said it would not let the bandh spoil the party.

“We will carry on with our procession programme from Jorhat airport to Mariani to welcome Anamika. We have planned everything and now we cannot stop out of fear of the Ulfa,” a member of the samiti said.

Such has been the enthusiasm about Anamika’s homecoming that the Jorhat district administration has allowed a cultural programme to be held at the Court Field to welcome the singer.

The administration had banned holding of non-official functions at the Court Field after the Ulfa bomb blast at Dhemaji.