The driver of the vehicle allegedly utilized by ULFA (Independent) militants in the recent attack on the Kakopathar Army camp has been identified as Bitul Baruah, who was reportedly wounded during the incident. Baruah is currently receiving medical treatment under close security surveillance as authorities delve into the details of the assault that took place late at night on October 16.
Investigations into the vehicle’s provenance reveal that Baruah had acquired the truck, bearing registration number AS 25 EC 2359, from a dealer based in Guwahati. Security agencies suspect this vehicle was the transport used by ULFA (I) militants to launch the operation against the Army post. The truck was later recovered from Tengapani Ghat, situated along the Noa-Dihing River near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
According to initial police accounts, the attackers approached the Army camp from the Doomdooma side. The militants initiated the assault by firing three Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL) at the camp, followed by a sustained period of heavy gunfire that lasted for approximately 30 minutes, causing significant alarm in the locality. Authorities are now rigorously probing Bitul Baruah’s potential connections to the banned outfit and the precise nature of his participation in the attack. The incident has renewed concerns regarding the operational presence of ULFA (I) in Upper Assam, leading to a heightened focus on counter-insurgency efforts across the region.
