'Guwahati University scholar, held in blast case, took orders from Ulfa-I chief'

GUWAHATI: Guwahati University research scholar Sanjib Talukar, who was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the blast at RG Baruah, was reportedly in the loop regarding the plan to carry out the attack and helped Bijoy Asom, the prime accused who is believed to have lobbed the grenade on May 15, preliminary probe has revealed. Talukdar has been sent to police remand for six days.
Police said that Talukdar, who was the former president of Gauhati University Post Graduate Students' Union, was allegedly taking direct orders from Ulfa (Independent) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah. The 26-year-old has reportedly confessed to having been in contact with Baruah since 2017.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar said, "Baruah called him in April and forwarded Bijoy's contact number, saying that he needed help. He was given the responsibility to take Bijoy around the city and Talukdar did it. The duo was also found to have visited the blast spot prior to the incident." It was found that on April 27, both Bijoy and Talukdar had carried out a recce of the city from Ganeshguri to Jalukbari.
The city police are considering Talukdar's arrest to be a major breakthrough in the. "It's very unfortunate to know that such a brilliant youth has ruined his future by working for a militant outfit. It's Ulfa (I)'s new strategy to handpick smart and intelligent youths and to spread its tentacles through the city," the commissioner added.
Talukdar, a resident of Baihata Chariali, was pursuing his MPhil in Botany and also preparing for the UPSC exams. Police have found that Talukdar grew a connection with the militant outfit after he became the president of the Gauhati University students' body. It has also been found that Ulfa(I) members were using social networking sites to contact or call their sympathizers.