ULFA planning major strike in Assam

Guwahati, July 16 (UNI) Security has been beefed up throughout Asom following intelligence reports of possible retaliatory attacks by the banned ULFA in lower Asom to avenge upon the killing of four of their top leaders recently in Garo Hills of Meghalaya.

'' The ULFA is planning a major attack in retaliation for the killing of six of its cadres in any of the districts of Kamrup, Baksa, Nalbari and Barpeta, '' senior police officials said.

'' As the peace process has hit a wall, the ULFA would like to exert pressure by stepping up the offensive, ''they said adding, there were also intelligence reports that the Lashkar-e-Toiba might also target some vital installations in Asom.

Police had received intelligence inputs that the commandant of ULFA's 28th battalion, Hira Sarania, had issued instructions to cadres for carrying out an attack in lower Assam very soon.

Taking the intelligence output seriously, the security forces had fanned out to every vantage point. In and around Guwahati regular patrolling had been stepped up and in fact commando forces on motor cycle had also been deployed.

Police were specially on the lookout of slums where Pakistan-backed Muslim terrorist could be hiding and already an eviction drive in and around Guwahati Railway station was on.

In the said four districts police had been put on alert. The situation got more fluid when Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi informed the state Assembly that he could not guarantee halt of army operation till a ceasefire was signed.

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