GUWAHATI: Assam police have arrested a research scholar, Sanjib Talukdar in connection with the May 15 grenade blast after ascertaining that he was “in close touch” with United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) Independent (ULFA-I) commander-in-chief, Paresh Barua prior to the attack.
Twenty-six-year-old Talukdar was arrested from his home town in Baihata Chariali, about 35km from here, on Monday.
So far, police have arrested four in connection with the blast, which left 12, including two security personnel, injured.
Senior ULFA cadre, Pranomoy Rajguru, his accomplice, Jahnabi Goswami and ULFA (I) cadre, Bijoy Asom, who allegedly hurled the grenade, were earlier arrested and are now in police custody.
“We arrested Talukdar from Baihata Chariali after his name came up during interrogation of Bijoy Asom. He was in close touch with UlFA-I commander in chief, Paresh Barua who had established contacts with him over phone at least five to six times and asked him to help Bijoy,” city commissioner of police, Deepak Kumar informed the media on Tuesday.
Kumar said Bijoy’s contact number was forwarded to Talukdar and after the ULFA cadre’s arrival in the city on April 27, a recee was conducted by the duo from Ganeshguri to Jalukbari apart from the site of occurrence on RG Baruah Road.
Talukdar was the president of Gauhati University Post Graduate Students’ Union during 2016-17.
“He is a research scholar who is doing his M. Phil in Botany. We have learnt that he is a faculty in a coaching institute for medical entrance exams. This connection again reaffirms the fact that ULFA-I is active over ground and is trying to influence and motivate educated people to help the outfit carry out subversive activities,” the police commissioner said.