NIA filed a charge sheet against ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah and five others for conspiring to target army camps as part of an anti-India agenda.

The central agency stated that they face charges for various criminal offences related to a 2023 terror attack on an army camp by the proscribed terrorist organisation in Assam.

NIA stated that the Myanmar-based ULFA-I, a banned terrorist group, orchestrated the attack on the army camp in Kakopathar, Tinsukia district, Assam. On the evening of 22nd November 2023, two youth on motorcycles lobbed grenades at the camp as part of the planned execution.

The NIA stated that no one was injured in the grenade attack on the army camp, which was part of a larger conspiracy to target army personnel across Assam. In its charge sheet filed in the NIA special court in Guwahati, the agency named ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah and five others, including key conspirators SS Brigadier Arunudoy Dohutia, SS 2nd Lt Saurav Asom, SS Captain Abhijit Gogoi alias Aisheng Asom, Parag Borah, and Bijoy Moran.

Parag and Bijoy were arrested in early December last year from Tinsukia district, while the remaining accused are currently evading law enforcement.

The charge sheet, revealing the extensive conspiracy orchestrated by the top brass of ULFA-I "from across the international border," has been lodged under pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Explosives Substances Act, as stated by the NIA.

The charge sheet has unveiled a terror network involving recruitment, training camps, and the execution of terrorist attacks as part of the conspiracy, aimed at furthering the banned outfit's anti-India separatist agenda, the NIA stated.

As per the statement, investigations conducted by the NIA, which took over the case from Assam Police earlier, have revealed that Paresh Baruah, also known as Paresh Asom, and Arunudoy Dohutia, alias Arunodoi Asom, alias Iqbal, alias Ramya Mech, alias Bijit Gogoi, were the masterminds behind the conspiracy.

The NIA revealed that the duo had assigned Suresh Gogoi, also known as Saurav Asom, and another cadre to carry out multiple terrorist attacks on army camps in Assam.

Furthermore, it was discovered that Abhijeet Gogoi, also known as Kanak Gogoi, alias Rumel Asom, alias Aicheng Asom, alias Aishang Asom, had coordinated the entire planning, preparation, and execution of the attack in the current case.

According to the NIA, he had conspired with Bijoy Moran, also known as Ipul, alias Gandi, an overground worker (OGW) of ULFA-I, and recruited local youth to assist in executing the terrorist attack.

Image source: ANI