Policemen arrest former home guard in Asom

Tinsukia, July 8 (UNI) In a major breakthrough, Tinsukia police today arrested a former home guard who was instrumental in the recent blasts in the business township of upper Asom.

Tinsukia SP Prasanta Bhuyan said one Indra Gogoi, a former home guard who had been posted at Tinsukia police station, was tasked by ULFA to procure the pressure cookers and gas cylinders for carrying out the blasts.

Gogoi admitted to have provided the gas cylinder to the ULFA which was kept along with a bomb in a car and detonated in the heart of Tinsukia on May 4 last, killing two people, the SP said.

Besides, Gogoi also worked as an informer for the ULFA, disseminating information to the ULFA top brass regarding movement of security forces, especially before and after the blasts.

A mobile phone and a SIM card, provided by the ULFA, were seized from Gogoi's Borlaipuli residence.

Gogoi was posted at Tinsukia from 2001-2004, after which he quit.

Ironically, scores of women of the Panitola area staged a road blockade in protest against Gogoi's arrest, but dispersed after the intervention of the police.

Police said the protest was instigated by frontline organisations of the ULFA.

Meanwhile, a dacoit-turned ULFA cadre, Pradeep Gogoi of Pengree was also arrested by police today. The police said he was involved in the recent killing of school teacher Rohini Gogoi.

A country-made pistol and a look-alike of the AK 47 were seized from him.

UNI