Police raid in hotel for ultras

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 21: Acting on a tip-off a large contingent of police raided a luxurious hotel on Biswa Singha Road in the midst of the town this afternoon. The raid that continued for a few hours created curiosity and panic among citizens who gathered in a large number in the vicinity. But no suspected person was found during the search operation.

 

Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar said they got secret information that a group of youths from Assam took shelter in that hotel. As the Raas Mela is on the corner and militant outfits of northeast region like ULFA are active in this region the police are not ready to take any chance and so he ordered a thorough search in that hotel, the SP said. During the raid a large contingent of police cordoned the hotel and sealed all exit and entrance points so that no one can escape.

 

The SP mentioned that recently they had received information from their counterparts in Assam that a few ULFA militants arrived in Cooch Behar for medical treatment. Following that tip-off they conducted raids in several nursing homes in the town but no suspected one found till now. Searching is still going on for the suspected persons that are believed sneaked into Cooch Behar for treatment. Plainclothesmen are keeping watch on the nursing homes and hospitals round-the-clock.

 

Though the police failed to nab any man today from the hotel they seized seven LPG cylinders meant for domestic use that are being used illegally in that hotel for commercial purposes. A separate case will be initiated in connection with unauthorised use of domestic gas cylinders, the Cooch Behar SP, Mr Kumar said. On the otherhand, additional police personnel including senior officials are to arrive Cooch Behar tomorrow to help District Police in maintaining peace during the fortnight long Raas Mela that is going to start on Saturday. []