Assam: NIA recovers a live IED from Lakhimpur

New Delhi [India] October 1 : National Investigation Agency (NIA) recovered a live Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from Assam's Lakhimpur district, officials said on Tuesday.
According to officials, the explosive was placed by ULFA (I) terrorists as part of their Independence Day disruption conspiracy, was recovered early this morning by an NIA team. It was later defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad of Assam Police.
The NIA found out about the bomb during investigation into a case relating to the previous recovery of IEDs from North Lakhimpur district by Assam Police on 15th August. The state police had swung into action following the release of a video by Paresh Baruah, SS Commander-in-Chief of ULFA(I), declaring a 'military' protest by the banned terror outfit across Assam on I-Day. He had also called for a public boycott of the Independence Day celebration, warning of dire consequences if people disobeyed the instructions.
NIA, which took over the investigation from the state police on 17th September, found out that the ULFA (I) leadership had coordinated the placement of several IEDs with the intention to trigger blasts at multiple locations across Assam to protest against the celebrations of the Independence Day, 2024, and to strike terror in the minds of people, as part of a larger conspiracy, officials added.
Investigations into the case further revealed the involvement of one Girish Baruah alias Gautam Baruah and his associates in the movement and placement of IEDs in North Lakhimpur district.
Baruah was traced and arrested by NIA from Bengaluru on 24th September and had, on examination, disclosed the location of the live as yet unrecovered IED in North Lakhimpur. He further told NIA that the IEDs had been arranged and planted at the behest of Aishang Asom alias Abhiit Gogoi and other top leadership of ULFA(I).