Guwahati, Aug 14 — Security has been intensified across Assam ahead of Independence Day following a boycott call issued by the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) and NSCN/GPRN, with authorities stepping up surveillance to ensure peaceful celebrations across the state, officials said on Friday.
The outfits have urged people in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland to stay away from Independence Day programmes.
Unlike some previous years, however, they have not called for a general strike, citing the flood situation in Assam.
Police have strengthened security at all designated celebration venues, besides vital installations, public places and other sensitive locations. Additional patrolling and surveillance have been deployed, while security forces are maintaining close watch for any attempt to disrupt the celebrations.
Inter-state borders have also been placed under heightened surveillance as part of measures to prevent the movement of militants or any subversive activity. “We are confident of an incident-free Independence Day,” a senior police official said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will hoist the national flag at Khanapara field in Guwahati, while ministers and senior government officials will oversee celebrations at various locations across the state.
Security arrangements were reviewed earlier this week at a high-level meeting jointly chaired by the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police. Senior district officials participated through videoconference. The review covered anti-sabotage measures, surveillance of sensitive installations, intelligence-sharing among security agencies, route sanitisation, checking mechanisms and round-the-clock monitoring of celebration venues.
Such boycott calls have been a recurring feature in Assam and the Northeast, particularly around Independence Day and Republic Day. ULFA-I has historically opposed the celebrations as part of its demand for a sovereign Assam.
In 2022, after a similar boycott and shutdown call, CM Sarma said the massive public participation in Independence Day celebrations had given a “befitting reply” to those seeking an independent Assam. In 2021, ULFA-I had, for the first time in decades, refrained from calling an Independence Day bandh, a move CM Sarma had welcomed while urging its chief Paresh Baruah to come forward for meaningful talks with the Centre.
With this year's appeal limited to a boycott, authorities are relying on coordinated security measures and heightened vigilance to ensure that Independence Day celebrations proceed peacefully across Assam.