Assam: ULFA (pro-talks) leader, 2 others arrested

GUWAHATI:

Assam police have arrested three members of the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), including its vice-chairman, Pradip Gogoi, official sources confirmed on Tuesday.

“A secret input was received from a reliable source that a group of ULFA (pro-talks) militants namely Manab Pathak, Pradip Gogoi and Ketu Mudi along with some unidentified members of the group, conspired to assassinate the finance minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma by using firearms and explosives,” a statement from Assam Police headquarters, released to the media on Tuesday evening, stated.

“A crime branch case number 6/21, under Sections 120 (B) 121/ 121 (A)/122 of IPC read with Section 18 UA (P) Act, has been registered and Pradip Gogoi, Manab Pathak and Ketu Mudi has been arrested,” the statement said.

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According to police sources, Gogoi was arrested from the city’s Hatigaon area late Monday night “based on interception of phone call records and subsequently upon receiving orders from higher authorities”. 

Pathak and Mudi have been arrested from Karbi Anglong.

Police sources said the arrested men have been remanded to three days’ police custody.

(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)