GUWAHATI: The Guwahati city police have sounded alert in the city ahead of Independence Day. This time however, there is no specific threat but there are general threats.
Commissioner of Police, Deepak Kumar, talking to G Plus said, “We are on vigil 24X7 and prepared for any situation.” He agreed that there are threats from all the militant groups operating in Assam but the police are accordingly prepared.
Talking about the sleeper cells of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), the city’s top cop revealed that they are working on it and the issue is being closely monitored.
The presence of the ULFA-I sleeper cells was identified in Assam after a grenade blast on May 15 last had targeted a police picket on the RG Baruah Road near Guwahati Central, a mall.
From the many arrested in connection with the blast, around three were suspected as sleeper cell members of ULFA-I.
The Commissioner of Police, after investigation, had then said that some arrested members had been contact with ULFA-I high command since many years and the investigation underlined that the ULFA-I is trying to rebuild its network and set up sleeper cells across the state. The Assam Police is aware of the situation and security has been accordingly beefed up ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, three suspected Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) cadres were also arrested in Barpeta district of lower Assam on Tuesday (30th July) last.
The presence of Jammat-ul- Mujahedeen of Bangladesh (JMB) in the state has raised a fair bit of concern. Now the reports of the invasion of ISIS ideology and it spreading in the state are surely dangerous propositions. But meanwhile, the city police sound confident of tackling any kind of untoward situation.
Another senior police official said that three vital matters would be to check the security of the venue of official celebrations (which is the Veterinary Filed at Khanapara), area domination, patrolling and the intensity of patrolling.
He said that prior to events like Independence Day and Republic Day the security is beefed up in various ways. He said that the operational teams like the commando and other patrolling parties are keeping vigil in all the areas near the venue and also the entire city.
Senior police officials are interacting with all the thana personnel and conducting a number of meetings with the local people to sensitise them and soliciting information about any suspicious person in their respective areas and localities. All the security measures like checking, frisking and so on are being carried out on a daily basis with change of timings to keep the surprise elements intact.
There are many teams of anti-sabotage checking who keep patrolling in different areas every day. All the city entry points on the highways are being thoroughly checked; the train entry points are also being checked.
There are some suspected areas in the city which are under the police scanner and are checked almost every day. The river ways of the city are also well-guarded with all the river ghats being thoroughly checked every day with an eye being kept for suspicious people crossing the river.
All suspected miscreants of the city are being scanned and if required, are interrogated to search for any clue. All the hotels, lodges are being checked and strict verification is being done of the people visiting the city. There are commando teams moving as mobile patrols and door-to-door checking is being done area-wise. All the city-based nagrik committees have been informed to report any kind of suspicious activity to the police.
“I request the public to cooperate with the police, to be safe and to celebrate the Independence Day with full spirit,” said Commissioner of Police, Deepak Kumar.
