'CM, wife in hitlist of ULFA'

Guwahati, April 27. Militants operating in Assam have targeted several politicians including Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, and planned to disrupt the polls by indulging in large- scale violence, a senior police official said.

The Chief Minister and his wife, Dr Joyshree Goswami Mahanta, MP, are the prime targets of ULFA who have regrouped themselves before the forthcoming polls, the official said. The other ministers who have been targeted by the banned outfit are Agriculture Minister Chandramohan Patowary, Revenue Minister Dr Zoii Nath Sarmah, Municipal Administration Minister Biraj Sarma, Minister of State for Tourism Jagadish Bhuyan and Minister of State for Veterinary Hiranya Konwar.

The police have beefed up security for the Chief Minister, his wife and the other threatened ministers, the official said.

ULFA has also targetted the AGP workers and intensified operations in the lower Assam districts of Nalbari, Barpeta and Bongaigaon.

The Army has also intensified patrolling before the polls and is maintaining strict vigil to prevent militant attacks.

- PTI

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Section  : State Elections
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