NIA charges five in Guwahati Independence Day blast bid linked to Ulfa (Independent)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against five accused in connection with the recovery of explosives planted in Guwahati to disrupt Independence Day in 2024.

A statement issued by the NIA on Friday said: “The case pertains to a conspiracy by the accused persons to wage war against the Government of India by attempting to carry out multiple IED blasts across Assam, including at Motilal Nehru Road, Panbazar, Guwahati, which were likely to cause death or injury to persons and/or loss of, damage to or destruction of property, with the intention of threatening the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of India and striking terror in the people of India.”

It said further investigation in the case was on.

The chargesheet was filed on Friday before the NIA Special Court in Guwahati against Paresh Baruah, chairman and self-styled commander-in-chief of the proscribed Ulfa (Independent), Kanak Ch Gogoi alias Aisheng Asom, Jahnu Boruah, Bhargab Gogoi and Sumu Gogoi.

They have been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. The case was initially registered at Panbazar police station in Guwahati on August 15, 2024, and was re-registered by the NIA on February 27, 2025.

The proscribed Ulfa (Independent) had claimed in a media statement issued on August 15, 2024, that it had planted 24 bombs at locations across Assam, sending the state administration into a tizzy.

The bombs were timed to explode between 6am and noon on Independence Day but failed to go off owing to a technical snag, the outfit had claimed.

The police recovered bomb-like devices from 10 locations across five districts — Guwahati, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Nalbari and Nagaon.

The NIA took over two cases registered in Guwahati and Lakhimpur in September 2024.