The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has significantly progressed in a major terror conspiracy case in Assam, filing charges against two additional individuals. This development brings the total number of people formally accused in the 2024 Independence Day improvised explosive device (IED) seizure case to five.
Supplementary Chargesheet Filed in Guwahati Court
In a key legal move, the federal anti-terror agency submitted a supplementary chargesheet before the special NIA court in Guwahati. The document, filed on Friday, formally indicted Bhargab Gogoi and Sumu Gogoi, both residents of Dibrugarh district. The duo had been apprehended in June last year, following the NIA's takeover of the investigation from Dispur police in September 2024.
According to the agency's findings, the two accused played a crucial financial role in the alleged plot. Investigations revealed that they had provided terror funds to another accused, Jahnu Boruah. Boruah had previously confessed to planting four of the eleven IEDs that were ultimately seized by authorities in August 2024.
Link to ULFA(I)'s Boycott Call and Wider Conspiracy
The NIA, in its official statement, clarified the motive behind the dangerous plot. The agency stated that the IEDs were planted as part of a protest and Independence Day boycott call issued by Paresh Baruah, the chief of the banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent).
The case was originally registered by Assam Police at the Dispur Police Station. It pertained to a serious conspiracy by ULFA(I) to wage war against the Government of India by planning and attempting to execute multiple IED blasts across the state. The initial seizure of the explosive devices had thwarted a potential catastrophe during the national celebrations.
Expanding Net and Legal Proceedings
With this latest chargesheet, the NIA has methodically built its case, moving from the initial arrests to formal legal indictments. The inclusion of Bhargab Gogoi and Sumu Gogoi underscores the agency's focus on tracing the entire network involved, from logistics and execution to the critical aspect of funding.
The case highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region and the persistent efforts of militant groups to disrupt peace. The NIA's continued investigation and legal actions demonstrate a concerted effort to dismantle such networks and bring all involved to justice under the stringent anti-terror laws of the country.
