From The Times Of India
March 16,2011
GUWAHATI: Even as the state was put on high alert following an IED blast at the state Congress headquarters and attack on BSF jawans by NDFB militants in Kokrajhar, the opposition on Tuesday targeted chief minister Tarun Gogoi for his failure in maintaining law and order ahead of the assembly elections.
The opposition accused Congress leaders of provoking the militants and sought an inquiry into the attack at Rajiv Bhawan by Ulfa hardliners loyal to their commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah. The faction headed by Baruah has already urged the people of the state to go against Congress in the coming assembly elections.
"We condemn the blast and urge the Election Commission to deploy additional forces in the state to prevent violence during polls. However, BJP believes that the militant attack on Congress headquarters is a result of chief minister Tarun Gogoi's provoking of Ulfa hardliners. Gogoi and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have incited a faction of Ulfa by underestimating its strength," said BJP spokesperson (Assam) Vijay Gupta. The party feels the incident has resulted in fear psychosis among people of the state.
On the other hand, health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused Ulfa of having a nexus with AGP. "Congress will dash all AGP hopes of coming to power," said Sarma.
But the regional party countered the allegation saying that Congress won the 2001 assembly polls with Ulfa's help. "The Congress leaders are shameless. They are simply trying to divert the issue. Everyone knows how they came to power with Ulfa's help in 2001. AGP has no link with the militants," said AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary.
Meanwhile, police have tightened security and arrested one person besides detaining two others from the city on Tuesday. "While one person carrying detonators from Meghalaya to Guwahati was arrested from the Jorabat area of the city, two others have been detained for interrogation," said Deepak Chaudhury, senior superintendent of police (city). He added that they have taken up elaborate security measures in and around the city and intensified counter-insurgency operations.
A senior intelligence officer said police didn't have prior information that Ulfa might attack the Congress headquarters on Monday. He added that security agencies have confirmed that Ulfa military boss Paresh Baruah may use rebels of other militant outfits hiding in the city to carry out subversive activities.
"We managed to detect some international calls made from the city after the IED blast took place on Monday evening," said the officer. He added that militants having close links with Paresh Baruah could be involved in the incident. He said an insurgent from a lower Assam district has already been identified.
On Tuesday, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) officials cleaned the garbage bin near the explosion site. Significantly, the state police headquarters is yet to give any additional instructions for tightening security measures in the city following the blast at the Rajiv Bhavan.
On Monday, Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had said the incident was an attempt to divert the ongoing peace process.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/High-alert-in-state-after-blast-at-Cong-HQ-before-polls/articleshow/7713273.cms
March 16,2011
GUWAHATI: Even as the state was put on high alert following an IED blast at the state Congress headquarters and attack on BSF jawans by NDFB militants in Kokrajhar, the opposition on Tuesday targeted chief minister Tarun Gogoi for his failure in maintaining law and order ahead of the assembly elections.
The opposition accused Congress leaders of provoking the militants and sought an inquiry into the attack at Rajiv Bhawan by Ulfa hardliners loyal to their commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah. The faction headed by Baruah has already urged the people of the state to go against Congress in the coming assembly elections.
"We condemn the blast and urge the Election Commission to deploy additional forces in the state to prevent violence during polls. However, BJP believes that the militant attack on Congress headquarters is a result of chief minister Tarun Gogoi's provoking of Ulfa hardliners. Gogoi and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have incited a faction of Ulfa by underestimating its strength," said BJP spokesperson (Assam) Vijay Gupta. The party feels the incident has resulted in fear psychosis among people of the state.
On the other hand, health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused Ulfa of having a nexus with AGP. "Congress will dash all AGP hopes of coming to power," said Sarma.
But the regional party countered the allegation saying that Congress won the 2001 assembly polls with Ulfa's help. "The Congress leaders are shameless. They are simply trying to divert the issue. Everyone knows how they came to power with Ulfa's help in 2001. AGP has no link with the militants," said AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary.
Meanwhile, police have tightened security and arrested one person besides detaining two others from the city on Tuesday. "While one person carrying detonators from Meghalaya to Guwahati was arrested from the Jorabat area of the city, two others have been detained for interrogation," said Deepak Chaudhury, senior superintendent of police (city). He added that they have taken up elaborate security measures in and around the city and intensified counter-insurgency operations.
A senior intelligence officer said police didn't have prior information that Ulfa might attack the Congress headquarters on Monday. He added that security agencies have confirmed that Ulfa military boss Paresh Baruah may use rebels of other militant outfits hiding in the city to carry out subversive activities.
"We managed to detect some international calls made from the city after the IED blast took place on Monday evening," said the officer. He added that militants having close links with Paresh Baruah could be involved in the incident. He said an insurgent from a lower Assam district has already been identified.
On Tuesday, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) officials cleaned the garbage bin near the explosion site. Significantly, the state police headquarters is yet to give any additional instructions for tightening security measures in the city following the blast at the Rajiv Bhavan.
On Monday, Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had said the incident was an attempt to divert the ongoing peace process.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/High-alert-in-state-after-blast-at-Cong-HQ-before-polls/articleshow/7713273.cms
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