NCC cadets rehearse for Republic Day celebrations at Latasil ground in Guwahati on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Jan. 23: Policemen from “peaceful” districts have been arriving in the city for the past few days to make up for the shortage of security personnel as the police force pulled out all stops to prevent terror attacks in the run-up to Republic Day.

“With the number of policemen very few compared to other capital cities in the country, we are having a tough time. But we are doing our best despite the odds,” said Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, inspector-general of police (law and order).

Police sources said Ulfa, the NDFB and a militant outfit from Manipur were trying to carry out blasts in Guwahati before January 26. They said these groups were making attempts to smuggle in bombs into the city daily. “Militants seem desperate to target Guwahati probably to show their strength,” another police official said. “Besides, hitting Guwahati also ensures a lot of publicity which the militant outfits crave for as it keeps them going.”

Sources said the manpower crunch has forced senior officials to take to the field, personally supervising road checks and operations in the past few days.

The police have asked the Railways to cancel running of trains at night from tomorrow noon till the morning of January 27. Chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, S. Hajong, said all night trains would be cancelled from tomorrow because of security reasons.

Police sources said checking in all the routes leading to the city has been intensified to avert any attempt by secessionist forces to smuggle in arms and explosives to the capital city. “We have also placed informers on the outskirts of the city so that we get information if militants try to use other routes passing through these areas leading to the city,” a source said.

Apart from the land route, the security forces are keeping watch on the river routes.

Workers erect pandals for the Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati under the hawk eye of security personnel on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections

River patrolling on the Brahmaputra has been intensified, especially in the lower Assam areas. Sources in the police department said security personnel in all the lower Assam districts have been directed to keep a close watch on each and every vehicle coming to Guwahati. “We have also asked security personnel to travel in plainclothes on every bus coming to Guwahati from lower Assam towns,” a police official said.

This is apart from tight security at all bus and taxi stands in lower Assam towns. “We have left no stone unturned to protect Guwahati. Passing of a single day without a blast seems like winning a battle. But we want to win the war and the trophy will be a peaceful Republic Day,” a senior police official said.