Alert on borders, security raids in Guwahati in I Day run-up

Guwahati, Aug 12 (UNI) The Indo-Bangla border was on high alert, while security forces launched massive combing operations in and around Assam's capital city Guwahati, acting on inputs that insurgent elements could be holed up in certain pockets to trigger sabotive attempts during the Independence Day.

Confirming the raids, top police sources informed that intelligence reports had stated that militants were taking shelter in certain areas in Guwahati with an aim to strike during or in the run up to August 15 celebration.

Special security teams had fanned out across the city and its outskirts, including the border areas with Meghalaya.

Police refused to disclose further details of the raids but confirmed that operations were going on in sensitive areas.

Raids were on near Byrnihat area on the Assam-Meghalaya border till filing of this report, though details were awaited. Besides Byrnihat, several other pockets in and around the city, like Bonda, North Guwahati and Dakhingaon, were under security scanner.

Police informed that raids will continue till Independence Day and such operations were conducted prior to any important national day celebrations, when militants were known to strike.

A bomb was recovered from Bongaiagon in lower Assam today, two days after a grenade was lobbed at the SP's office there.

Meanwhile, additional troops had been deployed and stricter vigil was being maintained along the Indo-Bangla border to prevent movement of any anti-national element, BSF sources said.

Though there were no specific threats, the vigil had been tightened as intelligence reports had indicated that militants could try to strike during the August 15 celebration, the sources added.

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