Assam: Blast on railway track kills 2 ULFA militants

Two militants belonging to the proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) --anti-talks faction -- were killed in an explosion when they were trying to plant a bomb on the Railway track between Bhoju and Charangaram railways stations of the Northeast Frontier Railway under Sonai sub-division in Sivasagar district of Assam on Monday morning.

The police said that the two ULFA ultras who were trying to plant an explosive device on the track probably to trigger explosion under Up Brahmaputra Mail running between New-Delhi and Dibrugarh (Upper Assam). The train was scheduled cross the track after some time.

The Army and police launched a combing operation in the area following the blast. The area is close to inter-state boundary with Nagaland. Police said some ULFA militants were taking refuge in Mon district of Nagaland bordering Sivasagar district of Assam with intention to strike terror within Assam especially on and around November 28, which is observed as 'Black Day' by the ULFA .

It was on this day in 1990, the Army launched counter-insurgency operation against the ULFA in Assam for the first time.

Significantly, the police recovered another improvised explosive device hidden in the backyard of a villager on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Police and the Army operating under Unified Command have geared up vigil in Assam apprehending attempts by ULFA to strike terror on and around the 'Black Day' on November 28.

Security sources informed that the ULFA anti-talks faction is trying to recruit cadres as well as procure arms and ammunition with the help of Naga rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khaplang which has a strong base in Myanmar.

With cooperation from the NSCN-K rebels, the ULFA anti-talks faction led by fugitive Paresh Barua has been able to use Tirap and Changlang areas of Arunachal Pradesh as a passage between its base in Myanmar forests and Eastern Assam districts bordering Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Paresh Barua's strong opposition to the peace talks between the government and pro-talks ULFA faction led by its Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has posed challenge for success of the peace process given that the Barua faction has tried hard to gain fresh foothold in Assam especially in Upper Assam districts Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia .

In view of intelligence inputs that Barua has found shelter somewhere in China and has been shuttling between China and his Myanmar base, Assam government expects the Cental government to bring the matter to the notice of Beijing. However, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that there was nothing new in Barua travelling to China, he said the fugitive ULFA commander in chief was fighting his last battle.