Assam Police Nab Two ULFA(I) Cadres, Allege Targeted Killing Conspiracy in Tinsukia

Two alleged militants belonging to the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) [ULFA(I)] were arrested in Assam's Tinsukia district on Saturday, with police claiming that the duo had been tasked with carrying out targeted killings of civilians to spread terror in the region.

The arrests were made during a joint operation conducted by the Assam Police and central security agencies in Jagun , based on specific intelligence inputs, Tinsukia Senior Superintendent of Police Mayank Kumar said.

The arrested militants were identified as self-styled second-lieutenants Siyor Asom alias Humenjyoti Baruah and Manoj Asom alias Papu Moran , both residents of Tinsukia district. According to police, the two were previously involved in attacks on security personnel in Kakopathar and Jagun .

Security forces recovered two AK-56 rifles, 172 rounds of ammunition, two hand grenades , along with a medicine kit, syringes and opioids, food supplies, backpacks, and other war-like stores from their possession.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the two cadres were allegedly assigned to target and kill innocent people indiscriminately in Tinsukia town as part of a conspiracy aimed at creating fear and unrest, the SSP said.

Kumar further alleged that the planned modus operandi suggested the influence of external actors attempting to destabilise the region. The investigation is continuing to determine the broader network behind the alleged conspiracy and whether additional operatives were involved.