Seven ULFA-I linkmen held in Tinsukia, Jagun grenade attack under lens

Margherita, April 12: A joint operation by Assam Police and Arunachal Pradesh Police has led to the arrest of seven suspected linkmen of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) along the inter-state border in Tinsukia district.

The arrests were made from areas under Lekhapani Police Station following a week-long operation that began on April 7, based on specific intelligence inputs, officials said on Sunday.

The coordinated drive targeted individuals suspected of acting as conduits for the proscribed outfit across the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border.

The detained persons have been identified as Berlin Neog of Bordumsa, Mithu Gohain and Lilambar Moran from Pengeri, Bikash Deka of Kakopathar, Shiva Dey and Paritosh Deb from Miao in Arunachal Pradesh, and Manab Deb of Makum.

According to police sources, some of those apprehended are suspected to have played a role in facilitating the recent grenade attack on an Assam Police battalion camp in Jagun, Tinsukia, in which four commandos were injured.

Investigators believe the suspects may have passed on critical information to ULFA-I operatives ahead of the attack. However, no official statements have been released by the security agencies about the arrests at the time of filing this report.

All seven are currently being interrogated at Lekhapani Police Station as part of the ongoing investigation.

"All seven accused are currently in police custody, and interrogation is underway. The operation is a part of ongoing efforts to curb insurgent activities in Upper Assam," said a police official. 

Preliminary findings suggest that the accused had maintained sustained contact with the insurgent group and were involved in facilitating communication and coordination for its activities.

"These individuals were involved in providing logistical support and facilitating communication for the insurgent outfit," the officer stated. 

He further added, "The accused had been active for some time and was part of a local support network."

Police are also examining whether the individuals were linked to extortion or other underground operations in the region.

Officials further indicated that some of the detainees are academically accomplished, raising concerns about the recruitment of educated youth into insurgent networks.

The crackdown has heightened security focus in the region, with agencies intensifying surveillance along the sensitive Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border amid concerns over militant activity.