GUWAHATI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a key operative of the banned militant group, United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) [ULFA (I)], for planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Guwahati during the Independence Day celebrations earlier this year. This development was revealed by the NIA on Monday, December 16.
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The accused, identified as Jahnu Baruah, also known as Arnab Axom, was apprehended during an intelligence-based operation in Dibrugarh in the early hours of Monday. Searches conducted at Baruah's residence, with assistance from Assam Police, led to the seizure of several incriminating materials, including digital devices, which are now under examination. He was summoned for questioning at a local police facility, following which he was arrested.
Preliminary investigations revealed Baruah’s involvement in planting four of the 11 IEDs recovered by state police during the August celebrations. These devices were part of a protest and boycott call issued by ULFA (I)’s self-styled Commander-in-Chief, Paresh Baruah, who had warned of serious consequences for those defying the group’s directives through a video message.
Baruah reportedly placed the IEDs in key areas of Guwahati, including Pan Bazar, Dispur, Gandhi Mandap, and Satgaon. He had been under surveillance for several weeks after being identified through human and technical intelligence as one of the individuals involved in the collection and transportation of explosives intended to cause widespread harm.
The NIA had taken over the investigation on 17 September, uncovering that the plot was orchestrated under the instructions of ULFA (I) leader Aishang Asom, alias Abhijit Gogoi, and other top cadres.