False Alarm at ULFA Chief's Ancestral Home in Assam: Firecrackers Mistaken for Gunfire
In the early hours of Monday, the quiet village of Jerai Gaon in Chabua, Dibrugarh district, was jolted by reports of firing at the ancestral residence of Ulfa (I) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah. However, what initially sent shockwaves through the community turned out to be a false alarm, as Dibrugarh police swiftly clarified that the loud bangs were not gunshots but firecrackers burst by a group of youths celebrating a birthday nearby.
Police Investigation Reveals the Truth
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Atul Kumar visited the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. According to police findings, the youths ignited two sky-rocket firecrackers approximately 150 meters from the Baruah residence at 12:04 am and 12:05 am. The sharp, successive sounds were mistaken for gunfire by family members inside the house.
CCTV footage captured the flash of the fireworks, and the youths' own video recording of the celebration corroborated the police findings. "After a thorough enquiry, we confirmed that the sounds were not gunshots. The flash of the fireworks is clearly visible in the CCTV footage, and the youths had recorded the celebration on video," stated additional SP Atul Kumar.
Family's Immediate Reaction and Historical Context
Bipul Baruah (63), Paresh Baruah's younger brother, who resides at the property with his wife and son, described being woken by his son after hearing two loud bangs in quick succession. He checked the CCTV cameras but found nothing conclusive initially. The four-member Assam Police security team—comprising three armed guards and a Personal Security Officer—was immediately alerted, and Chabua police were informed. A search of the premises revealed no shell casings or bullet marks.
The family's concern was understandable, given the property's violent history. The ancestral home has been attacked twice before:
- First Attack (December 5, 2000): Caused extensive damage, though no injuries were reported. Empty AK-47 and 12-bore cartridges were recovered, prompting the then Congress government under Tarun Gogoi to sanction police protection for the family.
- Second Attack (May 6, 2003): A more brazen assault involving around 15 armed gunmen who opened fire on the house for nearly five minutes. Guards retaliated, and the attackers fled, with police recovering 43 empty cartridges from the site. Subsequently, two watchtowers and a six-foot concrete boundary wall were constructed, and security was increased to eight personnel.
Bipul Baruah reflected on the ongoing threats: "Our family has lived under constant threat since 1990. The walls still bear AK-47 bullet marks. The number of guards has changed over the years—now down to four—but the danger remains. In 1994, unidentified gunmen abducted my younger brother Dinesh Baruah; his bullet-riddled body was found later."
Longstanding Security Measures
Assam Police have guarded the residence continuously for the past 26 years, underscoring the persistent security concerns surrounding the property. This incident highlights the heightened vigilance required due to the family's history and the broader context of regional tensions in Assam.
