Guwahati : The Assam Police is set to transfer two cases related to the ULFA-I’s bomb threat on Independence Day to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), according to Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Pratap Singh. The announcement was made on August 20.

Speaking to media, DGP Singh said that the Assam Police registered 10 cases following the militant outfit ULFA-I’s claim of planting explosives in 25 locations across the state on August 15. “Two of these cases will be handed over to the NIA, one case of Guwahati and Lakhimpur each. We have already requested the Central government to facilitate this transfer immediately,” said Singh.

The police have made significant headway in the investigation. In Sivasagar, four individuals have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the plot, with one person believed to be a key player. “For the integrity of the investigation, further details cannot be disclosed at this stage, but rest assured, the perpetrators will face justice,” Singh added.

The DGP also issued a warning against those attempting to disrupt Assam’s development. “The state has been making remarkable progress in a peaceful environment. This incident is an attempt to derail that progress, and we will ensure that law and order are upheld,” he said.

Regarding a bomb scare at a Guwahati shopping mall on Monday, Singh mentioned that it was a hoax, similar to other false alarms in major Indian malls over the past six months. “The mall was evacuated and a thorough search was conducted, but nothing was found,” he said.

The ULFA-I had claimed responsibility for planting bombs at 25 sites, intending to detonate them on Independence Day, but a technical failure thwarted their plans. Assam Police has since launched a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident further.

Assam director general of police (DGP), GP Singh, made a strong statement on Monday, assuring the public that security forces will effectively counter any attempts to disturb the peace in the state.

This declaration follows a recent bomb threat from the banned militant group ULFA(I), which claimed to have planted bombs across multiple locations, including several in Guwahati, Assam.

The threat, communicated via email on Independence Day, alleged that 24 bombs had been placed in various areas across Assam. Over the past two days, ten suspicious items resembling bombs have been discovered, four of which were located in Guwahati.

“We’ve been combating terrorism in Assam for the last 40 years. Today, we’re closer than ever to eradicating such activities. We will take stringent actions against anyone trying to revive the days of violence and terror,” Singh said while briefing the media.

The Assam DGP highlighted the state police’s focus on enhancing traditional policing methods to effectively deal with criminal activities.  He also dismissed any notions of an intelligence failure concerning the recovery of these bomb-like substances, underscoring the state’s readiness to prevent any resurgence of terror.

In a related development, the City Centre shopping mall in Guwahati was suddenly closed, with management attributing the shutdown to a “technical issue”.  A notice at the mall’s entrance stated: “FOR TECHNICAL ISSUE MALL WILL BE SHUT DOWN FOR 2 HOURS”.

Meanwhile, security personnel were seen at the site, and the area had been cordoned off with traffic cones, further fueling speculation. Assam police officials informed that the mall authorities had received an email warning of a bomb on the premises.