Guwahati: Assam director-general of police Khagen Sarma on Tuesday said that anti-talk faction of the Ulfa and NDFB was planning subversive activities in the run up to the Republic Day celebrations in Assam.

Asserting that security forces would arrest NDFB chief I.K. Songbijit and his deputy B. Bidai soon, Mr Sarma said they were arrested in the past also, but due to ongoing peace-engagement, they got enlarged on bail.

Security forces have taken necessary steps to thwart the subversive plan of the Ulfa and NDFB rebels, he said, adding that the rebels may try to hurl grenade or plant explosives in public places. Mr Sarma, however, said that boycott of Republic Day celebrations by terrorist groups of Assam has become a ritual.

Meanwhile, NIA DG Sharad Kumar arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit to review the investigation into the cases relating the recent carnage in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts.

Mr Kumar, who had a meeting with his officers involved in the investigation of cases, also met chief secretary, DGP and other senior officers of the state. The NIA DG was also scheduled to meet Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi to apprise him about the progress of the investigation besides discussing the related issues.

In a related development, the Army on Tuesday arrested two over ground sympathisers of I.K. Songbijit faction of the NDFB and recovered two pistols with live cartridges from their possession.