ULFA plot to trigger blasts ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Assam visit unearthed

GUWAHATI: Two anti-talk ULFA militants are believed to be moving about in Guwahati with explosives ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Assam on November 29 and 30, a development that has sent the security establishment into a tizzy. According to the police, these militants are planning to plant explosives in a bus. In a precautionary measure, police in Upper Assam has asked Hindi-speaking traders to stay indoors and not venture out in the night till November 30.

“Two tribal boys probably belonging to the anti-talk ULFA faction are planning to keep explosives in state-operated Rhino buses,” senior superintendent of police, Guwahati, AP Tiwari, said, adding that efforts are on to nab them. “Police has requested people to report if they come across any suspicious objects.”

But the BJP isn't backing out because of the alleged threats. State BJP president Sidhartha Bhattacharjee said that the party will not be cowed down by any kind of threat. “We have not issued any precautionary advisory to party workers. BJP workers have faced many challenges in the past, several of them have even been killed.”

“We are not worried and have almost finished preparations for Modi’s November 30 rally,” he added. Intelligence agencies have warned that the outlawed antitalk faction of the ULFA can attack BJP leaders, workers and Hindi -speaking persons ahead of the Prime Minister's four-state Northeast tour. ULFA had in past targeted brick kiln workers and petty migrant traders.

More than 50,000 people from different parts of Assam are assembling in Guwahati on November 30 for Modi’s public rally in Guwahati. The outlawed section of the ULFA has triggered a blast in Dibrugarh on Sunday killing one person and injuring over 23. Also, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) tipped off cops who recovered over 5.5 kg of improvised explosive device from a Guwahati-bound train recently.