On Thursday, 15th August, a startling revelation came from the banned organization ULFA(I), which declared that it had intended to disrupt Independence Day celebrations in Assam by planting explosives. The group alleged that technical malfunctions prevented the bombs from detonating. In an unexpected move, ULFA(I) communicated this information through an email sent to several media outlets, outlining the failure of their plan.

The email, purportedly from the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), was signed by Assistant Publicity Secretary, Second Lieutenant Ishan Asom. It explicitly stated the failed intent of the scheduled military protest, which was supposed to take place from 6 am to 12 noon on the national holiday. The organization aimed to inform the public about the exact locations of the explosives for safety reasons.

"This to inform the indigenous people of Assam that on behalf of the organization 'United Liberation Front of Assam [Independent],' the military protest which was scheduled to be carried out from 6 am to 12 noon on 15th August 2024 could not be carried out due to technical glitches. Therefore the locations of the protests have been made public in view of public safety," the letter disclosed.

Furthermore, the group urged cooperation from the citizens of Assam. "Bombs were planted at the places mentioned below, cooperation is sought from the general public to remove the bombs from the said places and make them inactive," the letter added, indicating a shift towards minimizing potential harm following the technical failures.

Responding swiftly, Assam's law enforcement dispatched bomb disposal squads to the specified locations. A senior police official confirmed that teams were sent to all 24 locations mentioned by ULFA(I) to ensure any remaining devices were safely handled and neutralized.

Detailed Locations of Bombs Planted by ULFA(I) Across Assam

ULFA(I) provided a list of specific sites across Assam where they planted bombs as part of a disrupted plan to affect Independence Day celebrations. Due to technical failures, these bombs did not detonate, and the group disclosed their locations to the public for safety reasons.

The locations specified by ULFA(I) are detailed below:

• In an old car lying at the TDO office in Sivasagar.
• In the old ambulance lying along the road crossing BG Road ONGC Gate No. 5 in Sivasagar.
• Lakuwa Tinali, near the police station.
• Assam State Transport Corporation Dibrugarh, in an old bus.
• Assam State Transport Corporation Lakhimpur, in an old bus.
• In the old car of NHPC at The Parade Ground (A Team Field) near the Superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur.
• Laluk Daily Bazaar, near IB.
• In the old car covered with trees and vines near Barghat police station.
• Buried in the ground near the brick kiln found before reaching Aditya Hospital on the way to Nagaon Medical College.
• Buried in the open ground opposite Dispur Lastgate.
• In the transformer board box on the left side of the road leading up to Gandhi Mandap.
• Buried near CDA Gate on the way to Narengi Army Camp.
• Under the Gumti (kiosk) beyond Brahmaputra industry, Panbazar, Guwahati.
• Near Jorabat Flyover.
• Bhetapara.
• Maligaon.
• Rajgarh.
• Inside an old ambulance along the road leading to Nalbari Old Medical.
• In the empty space next to the first shop after the SBI Welcome Board on the Rangiya-Tamulpur Road, Goreshwar.

The letter also noted that the exact locations of bombs at two places in Tinsukia, including Panitola, two places in Golaghata-Sarupatha, and one place in Dibrugarh, could not be determined. These bombs were intended to be planted across various districts, including Kamrup Metro, Kamrup Rural, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, Tamulpur, Tinsukia, and Golaghat.

In response to ULFA(I)'s claims, police teams were deployed to the indicated locations to conduct thorough searches. Although some suspicious devices were uncovered, not all locations yielded findings. The security measures included blocking several crucial roadways in Guwahati, such as Zoo Road, the Ulubari-Rajgarh linking road, Dispur, and Narangi, among others, to facilitate safe and comprehensive searches.

DGP GP Singh of Assam provided specifics about the findings in Guwahati. "Two devices were found at two places in Guwahati after an extensive search, but they were not active bombs," he clarified. The devices consisted of circuits and batteries but lacked an ignition mechanism, rendering them inactive. To further ascertain the nature of these devices, Singh mentioned, "The substance inside is being sent for forensic/chemical examination," highlighting the ongoing efforts to analyze and confirm the potential threats.

Additionally, police officials in Guwahati, Nagaon, Lakhimpur, and Sivasagar reported finding materials resembling bomb components in various places, including Panbazar and Gandhi Basti in Guwahati. It's notable that out of the 24 locations listed by ULFA(I), eight are situated in Guwahati. One such location is an open field at Last Gate in Dispur, notably close to the official residence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.

Other critical areas identified as potential targets include the Satgaon road leading to the Army cantonment in Narengi, Guwahati, and several key areas within the capital city such as Ashram Road, Panbazar, Jorabat, Bhetapara, Maligaon, and Rajgarh. These areas have been under strict surveillance to prevent any possible incidents.

Meanwhile, an Assam Tribune report highlighted a concerning discovery by security forces—an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found in a transformer en route to Gandhi Mandap in Guwahati. This device was precisely as mentioned in the earlier disclosed letter by ULFA(I), underscoring the gravity and specificity of the threats outlined by the insurgent group.

CM Urges ULFA(I) to Not Hamper Development and Investment

Reacting to the unsettling revelations made by ULFA(I) in their letter, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the banned outfit directly. In his appeal, he strongly urged the group, led by Paresh Baruah, to refrain from actions that could destabilize the developmental strides Assam has made over the past decades. Highlighting a significant investment, the Chief Minister mentioned the semiconductor plant being set up by the Tata Group in Assam, emphasizing its importance for the state's economic future. “I would urge ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua not to create an environment in Assam that destroys the investment environment,” he stated.

Expanding on the economic implications, CM Sarma shed light on the state's unemployment issues, noting, “There are around 14 lakh unemployed youths in the state, if industry comes, our youths will have to go to work as security guards in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. If the youth of Assam is not in Assam, with whom will we develop and liberate Assam? That will make no sense. Therefore, I hope that we will not do anything bad in Assam that will make investors rethink, that will malign the name of Assam outside the state.”

He concluded his address by reiterating his invitation for dialogue to the anti-talk faction of ULFA, pressing them to consider the broader consequences of their actions and urging them not to hinder the ongoing development within the state.