GUWAHATI: Police have arrested two persons in Moranhat for allegedly making extortion demands in the name of banned outfit ULFA(I), officials said. Two more suspected linkmen of the group were also apprehended as the investigation widened.
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The arrested accused have been identified as Partha Protim Boruah (31), a resident of Nakhat Nagaon in Moran, Dibrugarh, and Abdul Sattar (35), a resident of Dholebagan, Mathurapur, in Charaideo district.
The case was registered at Moranhat Police Station (C/N 51/26) under Sections 308(4), 308(5), 351(3), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 10, 13, 16(1)(b), 17, 18A, 18B, 20, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
During further investigation, police apprehended two more suspected ULFA(I) linkmen or Over Ground Workers (OGWs) Topubon Gogoi of Gozpuria Gaon in Moran, Dibrugarh, and Gourob Gogoi of Padumoni Na Gaon in Khowang, Dibrugarh.
Preliminary findings suggest the duo extended logistical support to the outfit by helping receive and transfer extortion money, and by supplying mobile numbers and contact details of affluent and influential individuals in Moran, its adjoining areas, and Dibrugarh, who were subsequently targeted for extortion.
Investigators have also found that ULFA(I) cadre Abhilekh Sonowal, a resident of Khowang, Dibrugarh, was in regular touch with the arrested linkmen/OGWs and allegedly directed the extortion demands to identified businessmen through them.
Police said further action is underway to trace and dismantle the remaining links in the network.
