April 27: Rattled by revelations by arrested Ulfa militants that the city may be teeming with their comrades-in-arms and sympathisers, poll-bound Dispur finally decided to bring Guwahati under the ambit of the unified command to foil the outfit?s designs on the capital.

The city, under the unified command, will also bring the army into the security net, which is now being looked after by the paramilitary CRPF and state police.

Guwahati has never been under the unified command, mainly because of political reasons ? putting the capital in charge of the army may be construed as a sign of a weak government.

A source in Dispur said the government changed its mind because of the approaching Assembly elections slated for early next year. ?The government cannot take any chances now with elections so close,? the source said.

The government?s decision will be conveyed formally to the unified command at the next meeting of the security structure, which is likely to be held in the next few days.

Dispur is unlikely to go to town with the announcement to avoid panic among the people.

The army has, however, from time to time assisted the police and the CRPF but never taken part in counter-insurgency operations in the city.

The capital has always been a prime target for the Ulfa but the developments over the last few days have become a matter of grave concern for the government.

While several militants were arrested from different hideouts in the city over the past few days, the police have revealed ? based on their confessions ? that more than 100 militants could be hiding in the city.

Stepped-up police operations, after confessions by arrested Ulfa operational head, Saranga Patowary, has resulted in the arrest of at least six hardcore rebels. Patowary confessed that the outfit?s 109 battalion is operating from the city.

The police have also seized mobile phone sets, a Maruti car and a motorbike used by the rebels.

The focus of attention of the security forces today turned to a wanted Ulfa activist, Rana Pallab Goswami, suspected to be holed up in the city.

Goswami managed to give the police the slip during a raid at a hideout. He is said to be a close associate of top Ulfa leader Drishti Rajkhowa.

The police and CRPF personnel today carried out raids at several places, mainly in the suburbs in search of Goswami and other militants.

A police official said the department has been forced ?once again? to make it mandatory for landlords to provide ?detailed information? about their tenants.

Though city police had enforced the rule earlier too, it was never put into practice. ?Now, we have to take it very seriously,? the official added.

Under the rule, landlords have to fill up a form with every detail of the tenants.