NIA chargesheets 4 absconders among 6 accused in ULFA(I) attack on army camp

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 29, 2024

Following thorough investigations, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday chargesheeted six accused, including four absconders, for various criminal offences under IPC, UA(P) Act and Explosives Substances Act in a 2023 case involving a terror attack on an Army camp by ULFA (I) in Assam.

“Myanmar-based ULFA-I had hatched the conspiracy and planned the execution of the attack, in which two motorcycle-borne youth had lobbed two grenades at the army camp in Kakopathar in Tinsukia district on November 22, 2023. No one was injured in the assault, which was part of a bigger conspiracy to kill or injure army personnel through a series of grenade attacks on army camps across the state,” the NIA said in a statement on Wednesday.

In its chargesheet filed before NIA Special Court, Guwahati, the agency has named ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah, along with Brigadier Arunudoy Dohutia, 2nd Lt Saurav Asom, Captain Abhijit Gogoi @ Aisheng Asom, and two others, identified as Parag Borah and Bijoy Moran, as the key conspirators and executors of the attack. Parag and Bijoy were arrested in early December 2023 from Tinsukhia district while the other accused are absconding.

The chargesheet, which has exposed the deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the top leadership of ULFA (I) from across the international border, has been filed under relevant sections of IPC, UA(P) Act and Explosives Substances Act.  Through the chargesheet, a terror network of recruitment, training camps and execution of terrorist attacks has come to light as part of the conspiracy, aimed at the banned outfit’s nefarious, anti-India separatist agenda.

Investigations by NIA, which had taken over the case earlier from Assam Police, revealed that Paresh Baruah @ Paresh Asom and Arunudoy Dohutia@ Arunodoi Asom @ Iqbal @ Ramya Mech @ Bijit Gogoi had masterminded the conspiracy. The duo had deputed Suresh Gogoi @ Saurav Asom and another cadre to carry out multiple terrorist attacks on Army camps in Assam.

It was further revealed that Abhijeet Gogoi @ Kanak Gogoi @ Rumel Asom @ Aicheng Asom @ Aishang Asom had coordinated the entire planning, preparation and execution of the attack in the instant case. He had conspired with Bijoy Moran @ Ipul @ Gandi, an Over Ground Workers (OGW) of ULFA(I), and recruited local youth to help in executing the terrorist attack.

According to NIA investigations, ULFA (I) had been using social media platforms for recruitment of vulnerable youth into the organisation, followed by their training for terrorist activities. The proscribed outfit was involved in planning and executing terror attacks in furtherance of its extremist and separatist ideology.

Investigations are in progress to identify other conspirators and associates of the accused involved in the attack and to expose the complete terror network.