Guwahati, Aug. 13: Intelligence inputs about a terror plot hatched by “Pakistan-based extremist groups” ahead of Independence Day is worrying security forces in Assam, though they have been battling numerous outfits for over 30 years.

“Terror attacks by groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen not only kill people and destroy property but also fuel communal tension. So, maximum alert has been sounded in the state after central intelligence agencies warned us last week about a terror plot by such groups,” a senior Assam police officer told The Telegraph today.

Security forces on Monday issued a statewide alert as soon as police received information about entry of a group youths in Kamrup district, who could not be located for more than 10-12 years and were believed to have moved out of the country for extremist training. Sources said a massive hunt was launched in search of the youths, particularly in lower Assam’s Kamrup, Kamrup (metro), Barpeta, Goalpara, Dhubri and the BTAD districts. 

The police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier stumbled on the network of another extremist group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh, in the state and arrested at least 10 of their members in Barpeta district.
The security forces’ “extra worry” is visible on the city streets, railway stations and bus stands across the state where thorough frisking is being carried out to prevent terror attacks.

Assam director-general of police Khagen Sarma yesterday shared the intelligence inputs about the plan of Pakistan-based terror groups to carry out attacks with chief minister Tarun Gogoi and apprised him of the “zero-tolerance” initiative the police had taken up to prevent such a plot, sources said. 

Soon after the meeting, Sarma had said apart from Ulfa (Independent) and the anti-talks faction of NDFB, inputs about possible terror plan by extremist groups was being given equal importance. Ulfa, NDFB, KLO and other rebel groups, almost every year issue a boycott call and “general strike” on Independence Day and Republic Day.
Sources said the police and security forces have been asked to keep maximum vigil on railways and market places, where the groups were planning to plant IEDs and trigger explosions. The state police headquarters yesterday warned all districts that Ulfa (I) might “outsource” petty criminals to plant IEDs in abandoned bicycles or vehicles to trigger blasts ahead of Independence Day.

On the other hand, the state government will observe August 16 as Sok Divas (State Mourning Day) in all district and sub-divisional headquarters in memory of the 14 people killed in a bomb blast triggered by Ulfa in Upper Assam’s Dhemaji town on August 15, 2004.