 | | File picture of people protesting against killings by Ulfa militants in Tinsukia district |
Jorhat, Jan. 5: The home department has sounded a high alert in Upper Assam following intelligence reports that the Paresh Barua-led Ulfa group may try to target the Hindi-speaking population in the run-up to Republic Day. The report also spoke of possible attacks on politicians, prominent persons and at parade grounds, with the Barua group trying to create a "spectacular impact". Sources in the home department said a message was sent to all the districts in Upper Assam two days ago directing them to review and revamp security measures in view of the threats. The message, quoting intelligence inputs, said the Barua faction of the outfit, which of late had not been able to carry out "big strikes", would try to aim at soft targets like the Hindi-speaking population. The missive asked the districts to increase security cover in areas which had a considerable density of Hindi-speaking people and also at places of worship of the community and markets where these people have their establishments. The outfit has a record of targeting helpless impoverished migrants who came to Assam in search of work. On January 5, 2007, 13 Hindi-speaking people were gunned down by Ulfa militants in Dibrugrah and Tinsukia districts in three separate incidents. The victims were mostly brick kiln labourers and shopkeepers. Last Monday, militants belonging to the suspected Barua-led group lobbed a grenade at a shop in a busy commercial area on GNB Road in Tinsukia town, injuring five persons. The owner of the shop and the all injured persons were from Hindi-speaking states. A senior police official said the outfit has failed to carry out attacks in the past few years, with three prominent leaders coming overground by breaking away from the outfit's lethal 28th battalion. With the Barua-led group losing several of its cadres in encounters with security forces, the group is likely to aim at easier targets now. Last time, the killings had led to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting the two Upper Assam districts. The official said the missive issued by the home department has asked local police to hold meetings with representatives of the community and sound a caution to thwart any possible attacks. The message also said the Barua group might target politicians and prominent persons and parade grounds apart from attacking vital installations in the oil and power sectors, railway lines, telecommunications. An Ulfa-triggered blast had killed 13 people, including 10 children, during Independence Day celebrations at Dhemaji in 2004. The official said in view of the threats from the Barua group, necessary steps were being taken to prevent any subversive activity. | 
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