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Police point the finger at ULFA for Guwahati blast

Guwahati: Two persons were killed and at least 10 others injured when a cycle bomb went off in a busy market at Maligaon here on Friday. The blast occurred at 6.30 p.m. in less than 150 meters away from the headquarters of the Northeast Frontier Railway.

Director-General of Police G.M. Srivastav told journalists that preliminary investigation indicated that it was the handiwork of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

Assam government spokesman and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the blast was a handiwork of militants to gain publicity, especially when the Assembly session was going on.

The cycle with the IED was parked in between two cars. Both the cars were badly damaged in the blast and its occupants were injured.

The cycle was blown into pieces while the two cars bore marks of splinters. Blood stains could be seen inside the two cars and surrounding areas of the market.

The police suspect that the militants wanted to create a larger impact and huge fire by triggering off the bomb near the petrol tanks of the cars.

One of the deceased has been identified as Dhiren Kakoti, a Safety Inspector of the N.F. Railway. An N.F. railway spokesman said Mr. Kakoti was returning home after office hours. Seven people were admitted to the Railway Hospital, while three were taken to a private hospital in the locality. The critically injured were later shifted to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi condemned the blast and said it was a heinous act committed on innocent people. “It is a cowardly act that needs to be highly condemned by one and all.”

Mr. Gogoi appealed to the people to remain vigilant and to cooperate with the security forces to frustrate the sinister designs of extremist elements.

The blast came a day after the prime accused in the January 1 serial blasts, Pranjal Deka alias Biju Sarania of the ULFA’s 709 Battalion was killed in an encounter with a joint team of Assam police and the Army near Rangiya in Kamrup district.

Earlier, Dr. Sarma, while replying to the debate on motion of thanks to Governor’s speech, told the Assembly that the Chief Minister would soon quit the chairmanship of the Unified Command and entrust the responsibility to the Chief Secretary.

Describing terrorism as the biggest challenge facing Assam, he announced that the State government had adopted a policy of “zero-tolerance” against terror.

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