Dibrugarh: The army on Tuesday arrested a hardcore Ulfa (Independent) cadre, who is allegedly involved in Dikom pipeline blast last year, and seized a pistol and a magazine in an operation in Chabua.

According to sources, acting on a tip-off, troops of the 9 Rajputana Rifles of the Dao division launched an operation around 5am and apprehended self-styled lance corporal of the outfit Ganesh Gogoi.

He was later handed over to Chabua police station.

Ganesh told the army that three days back he had met Ulfa (I) leader Jan Asom.

Recently, the 9 Rajputana Rifles has arrested four hardcore Ulfa (I) militants in Dibrugarh district.

"We are intensifying counter-insurgency operations against the outfit and nabbed four Ulfa (I) cadres from different areas of the district," said an army source.

On Friday, the army had apprehended two arms dealers and linkmen of the banned Ulfa (I) in the Naharkatia area.

The duo were identified as Jiten Saha, 31, a resident of Naharkatia in Dibrugarh and Junaid Ahmed, 28, from Sonari in Charaideo district. A .22 pistol, two magazines and three cell phones were recovered from them.

Both were handed over to Rajgarh police station where they were interrogated by senior police officers.

An army officer said besides working for Ulfa (I), Saha doubled as an arms dealer, supplying weapons to Northeast-based militant groups.

Both of them would procure arms from Nagaland and provide weapons to the militants. Later it came to light that they had been doing this for many years.

"On May 8, we arrested hardcore Ulfa (I) cadreDipanjit Handique, alias Tejushree Asomi, from Kachamari Hatigar village, Chabua. It was a major operation against militant activities in Upper Assam. Ulfa (I) has become desperate after demonetisation and its top brass has ordered expediting of extortion drives," an army source said.