BLAST FROM THE PAST: How Intelligence Bureau And Delhi Police Foiled Tarun Gogoi’s Assassination Plot By NDFB
Way back in 2002, the Assam Police transmitted a threat assessment report for then-chief minister TarunGogoi to Delhi Police. It said, Gogoi who had been a frequent visitor to the national capital – for official work or Congress party meetings – could be targeted by the now-defunct National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB). Acting on this report, the Intelligence Bureau and the Delhi Police swung into action with adequate measures, and kept Gogoi out of harm’s way. We reproduce the exclusive report published in The Telegraph on December 25, 2002 –Team TNE
Threat to CM under scan
Our Bureau
New Delhi/ Guwahati, Dec. 24: The Intelligence Bureau and Delhi Police are making an assessment of the “threat” to Assam chief minister TarunGogoi from militant outfits, especially the outlawed National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
The exercise began after the deputy commissioner of Delhi Police, T N Mohan, wrote to the joint secretary in charge of security in the Union home ministry, citing warnings by Assam police about possible attempts on Gogoi’s life in New Delhi.
The “urgent” note, received by the Union home minister a few weeks ago, said: “The director general of Assam police has intimated us, quoting reliable intelligence received from the army, that the NDFB plans to attack TarunGogoi in Delhi.”
Mohan called for an “assessment” of the threat to Gogoi and requested that the Intelligence Bureau be asked to forward a report, “with necessary advice” to the Delhi police headquarters at the earliest.
The chief minister admitted to being “aware of the threat” but made light of it. “I was informed by home commissioner (B K Gohain) about the threat. He said Bodo militants could be making some plans in Delhi. However, adequate security arrangements have been made by the agencies concerned. In any case, I am used to living under threat,” he told The Telegraph.
Assam DGP Hare Krishna Deka, however, declined comment. “Security related matters are not meant for discussion,” he said.
Gogoi is a frequent visitor to New Delhi – for official work or party meetings – and alternates between Assam Bhavan and his official residence, which had been allotted to him when was a Lok Sabha member.
The deputy commissioner of Delhi police “inspected” the chief minister’s residence in the capital and took stock of the security arrangements after receiving the report from Assam police.
A source said the Military Intelligence recently learnt of the NDFB’s plan to assassinate the chief minister and “immediately passed the information to the police top brass”.
Home ministry sources indicated that Gogoi’s security cover could be upgraded to the Z-plus category. If that is done, NSG commandos will guard him round the clock. At present, former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is the only political leader from Assam to have Black Cats as bodyguards.
A member of the police team that makes security arrangements for Gogoi said the chief minister was more vulnerable to attacks in New Delhi than in his home state.
“Unlike in Assam, his convoy has to stop at traffic red lights in the capital, which is cause for concern. A stationary target is more vulnerable to militant attacks.”
Another police official said the NDFB was feeling increasingly isolated in view of the progress of tripartite talks involving the rival Bodoland Liberation Tigers, the Centre and the Assam government. “If the Bodoland Territorial Council is formed, which the mainstream Bodo organizations want, the NDFB’s struggle will lose its relevance. The outfit is now desperate to stall the peace process.”