Assam Police have reported a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the planting of suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) materials in various parts of the state during this year's Independence Day celebrations.

In a press release issued on Sunday, police confirmed that, with technical support from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), coordinated raids were conducted across Assam on Saturday night. This operation resulted in the apprehension of 15 individuals, including three women.

This action was prompted by specific inputs received from various sources regarding attempted sabotage activities.

The raids took place in multiple locations, with arrests made in Tinsukia (1), Sadiya (1), Dibrugarh (3), Jorhat (2), Lakhimpur (3), Guwahati (2), Nagaon (1), Nalbari (1), and Tamulpur (1), bringing the total to 15 individuals.

Preliminary interrogations have uncovered incriminating evidence, and further questioning is expected to reveal more details about the broader conspiracy, the release said.

Earlier, four persons were arrested from Sivasagar district for their alleged involvement in the case.

Police had also announced a cash reward of up to Rs 5 lakh for credible information leading to the identification of those involved in manufacturing, transportation and planting of the "IED-like devices" in different parts of the state.

Last month, Assam DGP Gyanendra Pratap Singh had said two cases of the 10 related to ULFA(I)'s planting of "IED-like" objects would be transferred to the NIA for investigation.

Assam Police had formed multiple SITs in 10 districts where "bomb-like substances" were found after the banned ULFA(I) claimed to have planted explosives at 24 locations to trigger serial blasts across the state on Independence Day.

Police unearthed "bomb-like substances" from at least 10 places, including four in Guwahati.

In an email purportedly from the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) to media houses, including PTI, the terror outfit asserted that the bombs did not explode due to "technical failure".

ULFA(I) said the blasts were scheduled to take place between 6 am and noon on August 15 but after failure in execution, it sought public cooperation for defusing the explosive devices.

The email, which was sent minutes after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma completed his speech on the occasion of 78th Independence Day, prompted the security forces to send multiple teams to all the places mentioned by ULFA(I) to look for explosives along with bomb disposal squads assisted by other central security forces, including the Army.

The entire development put a big question mark on the efficacy of the intelligence wing as police had no clue about the existence of the bombs until ULFA(I) itself informed about these, despite the entire state being on high alert on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations.

With PTI inputs