Assam: NIA recovers live IED from North Lakhimpur district

Guwahati: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday recovered a live improvised explosive device (IED) from North Lakhimpur district of Assam.

According to the NIA, the IED was planted by the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) as part of their conspiracy to disrupt this year’s Independence Day and was recovered early Tuesday morning by its team.

The IED was later defused by the bomb disposal squad of Assam Police.

The probe agency learnt about the explosive while investigating a case related to the IEDs that were recovered by the Assam Police from North Lakhimpur district on August 15 this year.

“The state police had swung into action following the release of a video by Paresh Baruah, self-styled chief of United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), declaring a 'military' protest by the banned terror outfit across Assam on the Independence Day,” an NIA statement read.

“He had also called for a public boycott of the Independence Day celebration, warning of dire consequences if people disobeyed the instructions,” the statement added.

Also Read: Assam: Kaziranga National Park opens for tourists

The NIA took over the investigation from the Assam Police on September 17, 2024.

During investigation, it was found that the leadership of ULFA (I) had organised the placement of multiple explosive devices with an intention to trigger blasts at several places across the state in protest against the Independence Day celebrations this year in order to create a sense of terror in the minds of the general public as part of a bigger conspiracy.

Investigations also revealed that an individual Girish Baruah alias Gautam Baruah and his accomplices were involved in the movement of the explosives and further placing them in North Lakhimpur district.

Later, the NIA arrested Girish Baruah from Karnataka’s Bengaluru on September 24.

During interrogation, Girish Baruah disclosed the location of the live IED in North Lakhimpur.

He also revealed that the explosives were arranged and planted on the instructions of Aishang Asom alias Abhiit Gogoi besides other top ULFA (I) leadership.