GUWAHATI: Security forces are on high alert in the wake of reports of a group of United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) sneaking into an area along the Assam-Nagaland border from Myanmar in a bid to target vital installations ahead of Independence Day.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Wednesday, additional superintendent of police (headquarters), Tinsukia, P. Sonowal informed that security operations have been intensified in the run up to Independence Day.
“As it is, militant groups have time and again made attempts to strike vital installations ahead of either Independence or Republic Day. We do have information of ULFA (I) cadres sneaking into the country from Myanmar which is why we have intensified operations, including area domination along with naka checking,” Sonowal said.
Tinsukia police has intensified operations in areas like Bordumsa, Pengeree, Kakopathar and Lekhapani near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
The porous border with Myanmar is also a cause for concern with the modus operandi of militant groups being “hit-and-run” after entering the country.
“Since there is no barbed fencing and the fact that the entire stretch cannot be covered by security guards, more often than not it becomes easy for militants to attack and escape,” he said.
The additional SP also said four additional companies of armed forces were deployed for NRC-related security purposes recently.
Tinsukia district in Upper Assam shares a boundary with Arunachal Pradesh while Charaideo district shares boundary with Nagaland.
Charaideo superintendent of police, Jitmol Doley told this correspondent that militant groups take advantage of the fact that they can enter villages in Assam from either Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland border in short time.
“The militants who sneak into the country from their camps in Myanmar generally take advantage of the proximity from either Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland border where they can also return and take cover in areas which have dense forests and are sparsely populated. However, we are on high alert,” Doley said.