Guwahati, Jan. 21: Mortar attacks have added a ?new dimension? to security perceptions in the Assam capital, but police are fully prepared to quell the latest arsenal of militants, director-general of police Hare Krishna Deka said today.
Talking to The Telegraph, Deka said the shelling on December 25 had forced a change in the security strategy. ?All efforts are on to ensure that the coming Republic Day will be free from trouble.? Deka had yesterday reviewed the security scene at a meeting of deputy inspectors-general of police.
The new security strategy has already paid off, the police chief claimed, citing last midnight?s swoop that led to the unearthing of a cache of arms and ammunition from surrendered Ulfa men in Guwahati?s Basistha locality. Four persons, including two surrendered Ulfa members, were arrested.
?The militants have not been successful in making any impact on Republic Day and Independence Day in the last two years due to strict vigilance,? Deka said.
He also said that the Unified Command was functioning well in the state.
?We are making optimum use of the available resources to effectively deal with the present law and order situation,? the police chief said.
The midnight raid by city police in Basistha led to the seizure of two weapons and a large number of ammunition. The two former Ulfa members were identified as Arun Das alias Rajiv Baruah and Kumud Kalita. A .303 rifle, a .32 revolver, three fully-loaded magazines of AK-56 rifles and 840 live rounds, a hand grenade and a high-power laser-guided night vision device were seized.
The Ulfa had attacked the Dispur capital complex with mortars on October 27 last year. Barely two months later, militants struck on December 25 last, attacking Ambari and Kalibari areas in the city by lobbing five mortars. Two persons, including a five-year-old girl, were killed in the incidents.
Amid heightened security across the state, army personnel of the Red Horns division shot dead an Ulfa militant following a brief encounter near Lakhipur in Goalpara district today. A revolver and one Chinese-made grenade were found on the person of the slain militant.
Army sources said Chintu Barman alias Ajit Baishya of the Ulfa?s Enigma group managed to escape. They said Chintu Barman was planning to carry out subversive activities on or before Republic Day.