Combing ops after rebels’ ambush on Assam Rifles

Guwahati: A day after two soldiers were killed as Naga militants ambushed an Assam Rifles vehicle, the unified command of security forces launched massive combing operations in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district and adjoining Arunachal Pradesh on Monday.

In what came as a serious setback for the security scenario in the state, the attack had taken place despite specific intelligence inputs about the movement of militants along Assam-Arunachal border areas, and it was shared with all the forces operating on the ground.

The minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju was also scheduled to visit Phangsau Pass on Sunday, but his visit was cancelled, security sources said.

Pointing out that there was an input about a group of ultras entering the region through the Pangsau Pass bordering Myanmar in Arunachal Pradesh a few days ago, security sources said that it is suspected that the same group was involved in the ambush on Assam Rifle on Sunday.

Informing that the rebel outifts were planning more such offensive in the run up to Republic Day in Assam, sources said that unified security forces have also been alerted about the possible attacks.

Indicating that Ulfa (I), which is the part of UNLFW, has also intensified extortion drive in the Upper Assam districts, security sources admitted that driving force behind these attacks was Ulfa (I) chief Paresh Baruah to make their presence felt. The security sources also attributed the casualty inflicted on security forces to the casual approach of security forces.

Meanwhile, Assam Director General of Police Mr Mukesh Shahay who was in Tinsukia on Friday to review the situation in the wake of intelligence alert told reporters that they have intensified the counter-insurgency operations. “We lost two of our soldiers in the ambush but in retaliation two militants were also killed,” he said.

The special DGP law and order Mr Kula Saikia who himself was camping in Tinsukia after the incident told reporters that they have identified some of the corridors which militants have been using to enter Assam from neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. “We are taking necessary steps to block movement of militants through these forest corridors,” said Mr Saikia adding that security forces have also recovered three powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and a grenade from the area where ambush took place.

The Assam Police has also been coordinating with the police force of the neighbouring states but the militants are taking advantage of the terrain of the area, he said.

The senior police officers also held a meeting with the Army and paramilitary forces and visited the place of ambush to review the situation and formulate strategies to deal with the situation.