Guwahati, January 2
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today claimed that the Assam police had identified two of the three terrorists who detonated three bombs in the city on New Year’s Day while pledging ‘sharply focused operation’ to neutralise terror.
“The Assam police on whom I have full faith, are hot on the trail of perpetrators and will capture them soon,” he said against the backdrop of the police releasing the photograph of one Ulfa militant Pranjal Deka, alias Biju Sarania, who was involved in yesterday’s blasts in the city.
Chidambaram today reviewed the security scenario in the blasts-rattled Assam in a two-hour long meeting with the counter-insurgency Unified Command, senior officials of the Assam police, Army, paramilitary forces and intelligence officials in Dispur today.
Emerging out of the meeting, the Home Minister promised a ‘sharply focused operation strategy’ to counter threat from militants. He said, “No quarter will be given to militants. Broad guidelines will be given to the Army, paramilitary forces and police operating under the Unified Command against militants posing threat to peace and development.”
“I request the Chief Minister to focus his entire energy on development. The security forces will deal with militants in a most severe manner.”
Referring to leaders of terrorist outfits finding shelter in Bangladesh, Chidambaram said, “Most disturbing for us is that leaders of at least two banned militant organisations have found sanctuary in Bangladesh which didn’t have an elected government for some
time.
Hailing the Prime Minister-elect’s (Seikh Hasina) positive statement to join India in fighting terror, he said, “We hope for a new beginning with the new regime in Bangladesh to neutralise militant leaders taking shelter in that country.”
He was all praise for the Unified Command in Assam and encouraged the forces to carry on with the good work. He lauded the police for acting very fast on intelligence input. “We had intelligence input about blasts. In fact, intelligence was building up over the last few days. On the evening of December 31, we shared it with the state government. I must complement the police for acting swiftly on it,” said he.
“There was a manhunt for the person involved. The police knew his name and nearly apprehended him. The police know two of three culprits and will soon capture them,” added Chidambaram
The Home Minister earlier visited blast victims in Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) earlier in the day. Total 43 persons injured in the blasts were under going treatment in the hospital.
In the meantime, more security presonnel have been deployed across the city and security cover has been tightened for the PM’s visit later today.
