The injured being taken to hospital from the blast site, after a powerful bomb exploded by ULFA militants in Athgaon area of Guwahati city on Saturday. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

Guwahati, May 26 (PTI): On the eve of the Tarun Gogoi Government's one year in office, the proscribed ULFA today trigerred a powerful blast in Guwahati's Athgaon area killing seven persons and injuring 30 others which prompted an irate crowd to pelt stones at police.

Police said the bomb, kept inside an auto-rickshaw near the Marwari Maternity Hospital, went off around 10.45 am killing five passersby and shoppers on the spot in the busy commercial area.

The blast also caused a LPG gas cylinder being transported at that time in a cycle-rickshaw, to burst, police said.

Altogehter 30 people were injured in the two blasts. Two vehicles and two auto-rickshaws parked there were damaged, police said.

Chaos prevailed as the people attempted to flee. Police cordonerd off the area and the injured were rescued.

Twenty-two of the injured were admitted to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital, one to the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Civil Hospital and others at various other private hospitals, police said.

Local people in the area and nearby Fancy Bazar, the commercial hub of the N-E Region, took to the streets to demand police action against the repeated blasts.

The crowd urged the shopkeepers in Fancy Bazar to down their shutters as some of the agitators pelted stones at the police who attempted to pacify them. The agitators later dispersed, police said.

Centre acts swiftly, rushes forces

Acting swiftly, the Centre today rushed additional para-military forces to beef up security in Assam after ULFA militants triggered a powerful blast in Guwahati which left seven persons dead and 30 injured.

The Union Home Ministry directed the state government to remain vigilant and ensure that nothing untoward happens, a Ministry spokesman said.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil strongly condemned the blast, which occurred on the eve of Tarun Gogoi Government's completion of one year in office.

While Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta rang up the state Chief Secretary to take stock of the situation, the Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry spoke to the state poice chief.