GUWAHATI: To strengthen security ahead of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, police across Guwahati have launched safety measures even as the United Liberation Front Of Assam-Independednt [ULFA(I)] has called for a boycott of Republic Day on January 26.
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Checkpoints and nakas have been set up at strategic locations throughout the city to detect and prevent potential threats. To further enhance security, sniffer dogs are being deployed to conduct detailed inspections of vehicles and public spaces for explosives.
Talking to GPlus, a police official from Gorchuk police station said, “This is being done to strengthen security before the Republic Day. We keep nakas late at night too.”
This also comes as ULFA(I) took to publicly stating that they would boycott Republic Day this year as in the past.
ULFA(I) in a press release on Friday, January 23 said, “ Every year we oppose the colonial Indian "Republic Day." This time, our protest in Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal will include a total shutdown from 1 PM to 6 PM on January 26. We call upon all political, non-political, national organisations, and freedom-loving people to fully reject the false "Republic Day" and to refrain from public gatherings during the shutdown period. However, essential emergency services such as healthcare, along with media operations, will not be interrupted during this time.”
During the 2024 Independence Day festivities, the banned outfit claimed responsibility for planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in 24 locations across the state. The security forces later recovered 11 IED-like objects. While most of the devices failed to detonate due to technical malfunctions, the security threat posed remains a serious concern.