India: Four blasts rock Assam; 7 killed, more than 60 injured

[Al-zakir]

Posted: Apr 06, 2009 at 2013 hrs IST

New Delhi Jolted by powerful blasts in Assam on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit, the Union Home Ministry put the state on maximum alert and asked the administration to be extra vigilant.

Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta told reporters that he was in constant touch with Chief Secretary P K Sarma, to whom he had written a few days ago suggesting tight security ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Gupta, who reviewed the security scenario in the Northeast last week, is likely to visit the region soon to have a first hand idea of the ground situation.

He will also review counter-insurgency operations and steps taken along the international borders in the run up to the General Elections.

Preliminary investigations indicated the hands of ULFA in the blasts as the banned outfit carried out such explosion in the past prior to its 'Raising Day', which falls tomorrow and around the time of Republic Day and Independence Day to demand sovereignty.

The blasts, including in Dhekiajuli, occurred just a day before the Prime Minister's schedule visit to the state to address election meetings.

Early reports confirmed that at least seven people were killed and 61 others injured in two bomb blasts triggered by suspected ULFA militants in Maligaon area and Dhekiajuli on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Assam.

Assam DGP J M Srivastav said seven people were killed and 56 injured when a powerful bomb blast went off in Maligaon at around 2:00 p.m., sparking a fire that set ablaze two cars and 20 motorcycles and spread to a three-storey building housing the area police station.

"This is the handiwork of ULFA boys ahead of the outfit's 'Raising Day'," he said, adding the militants used hi-tech explosives.

While six were killed on the blast site, one succumbed to injuries after jumping from an adjacent building which had caught fire.

The DGP said Singh will go ahead with his visit to the state tomorrow during which he will address poll meetings in Dispur and Dibrugarh. "We have taken all precautions."

"The PM's programme remains unchanged," PMO sources said in New Delhi.

Black smoke billowed out after the bomb, suspected to have been hidden in a car or a motorcycle, went off at 2:00 p.m. adjacent to the Northeast Frontier railway headquarters.

Minutes after the first blast, another explosion took place in Dhekiajuli near Tezpur injuring 5 people.

The first bomb was planted in the vehicle in a parking lot near Ma Santoshi Cabin restaurant close to the Kali Mandir in commercial Maligaon Chariali area when it was crowded with shoppers and children returning home from school.

One of the victims was a student of the Maligaon Primary School. The students were coming out of the school when the bomb went off.

Two of the dead were identified as Mousum Khatun and Bhupen Kumar.

The injured were admitted to the nearby Sanjivani Hospital, N F Railway hospital, M M C Civil Hospital and Gauhati Medical College Hospital, the sources said.

People angered over repeated blasts since October last year attacked the police and their vehicles.

They were also annoyed that the recently launched 'Mrintunjoy 108' emergency service ambulances failed to arrive on time even after being informed.

The blast site was cordoned off by the security forces suspecting more bombs could be hidden there.

DIG G P Singh said ULFA's 709 battlaion could be responsible for the explosion.

ULFA regularly resorts to such blasts in the state on the eve of their 'Raising Day' as a show of strength.

Four blasts rock Assam; 7 killed, more than 60 injured - Express India

 

[Al-zakir]

8 killed, over 60 hurt in Assam blasts

GUWAHATI/NEW DELHI, April 6: Assam was rocked by three bomb explosions and a grenade attack that killed eight people and injured at least 62 others a day ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Assam.
Assam DGP Mr JM Srivastav said seven people were killed and 56 injured when a powerful bomb went off in Guwahati's busy Maligaon area at around 2:00 p.m., sparking a fire that set ablaze two cars and 20 motorcycles and spread to a three-storey building housing the area police station.
A couple of hours after the blast, another explosion took place at a marketplace in Dhekiajuli near Tezpur injuring 5 people. Suspected militants also exploded a grenade at a police station at Mancachar on the Indo-Bangladesh border, killing a policeman. Earlier, suspected Karbi Longri National Liberation Front militants exploded a bomb near a BSF camp at Jengpha in Karbi Anglong district, where the Prime Minister's scheduled election rally today was cancelled. No one was hurt in the incident.
“This is the handiwork of Ulfa boys ahead of the outfit's 'Raising Day',” Mr Srivastav said about the blast in Guwahati. While six were killed at the blast site, one succumbed to injuries after jumping from an adjacent building which had caught fire.
Notwithstanding the blasts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will go ahead with his visit to the state tomorrow, during which he will address election meetings in Dispur and Dibrugarh. Dr Singh represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha and the rallies mark his entry on the poll campaign trail.
The Centre, meanwhile, has sought a detailed report from the Assam government on the blasts and asked it to tighten security across the state.
The first bomb, suspected to have been hidden in a car or a motorcycle, went off in a parking lot adjacent to the Northeast Frontier railway headquarters in commercial Maligaon Chariali area when it was crowded with shoppers and children returning home from school. One of the victims was a student of the Maligaon Primary School. Two of the dead were identified as Mousum Khatun and Bhupen Kumar. The injured were admitted to the nearby Sanjivani Hospital, NF Railway hospital, MMC Civil Hospital and Gauhati Medical College Hospital.
Chaos prevailed in the area with people angered over the repeated blasts in the city attacking the police and their vehicles.
DIG Mr GP Singh said Ulfa's 709 battalion could be responsible for the explosion. Assam chief minister Mr Tarun Gogoi also told reporters in Guwahati that the needle of suspicion points to the Ulfa. “We will not allow these insurgent groups to disturb the election process. Election will take place as usual,” he said.
Union home secretary Mr Madhukar Gupta spoke to Assam chief secretary Mr PK Sarma and asked him to tighten security in Guwahati and other places, a home ministry spokesperson said. A bomb disposal and data collection team of the National Security Guards is being sent to Guwahati to assist in the investigations.

The Statesman

 

[haawk]

2 DIE IN BOMB BLASTS IN ASSAM'S NALBARI
CNN-IBN

SECURITY FAILS: Police and government officials examine the site of bomb blasts in Nalbari town.



Guwahati: Two people were killed and 25 others injured when two bombs exploded outside a police station in Assam's Nalbari district on Sunday, police said.

The bombs were reportedly kept on a parked bicycle and it exploded between 1000-1015 hrs IST, an official said.

Police suspect that militants of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) carried out the explosion.

The injured have been rushed to the hospital. Police say there is a sense of panic and tension in the city.

Nalbari district is about 70 km west of Assam's main city of Guwahati



SERIAL BLASTS IN ASSAM'S NALBARI KILL 5

 

[brahmastra]

Three explosions in Assam; five killed, 50 injured

Three serial explosions went off in Nalbari district of Assam on Sunday morning, killing five people and leaving more than 50 injured, police said.

The explosions went off in a span of 40 minutes. The first bomb was kept on a parked bicycle near a police station and exploded around 10 a.m.

The second went off 20 metres away from the police station, while the third was near a market.

Police suspect that militants of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) could be behind the blasts.

Nalbari district is about 70 km west of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.

 

[grey boy 2]

My condolences to the dead , injured and families,

May God bless them.

 

[leonblack08]

May the dead rest in peace.

 

[brahmastra]

The deceased have been identified as Keshab Das, Dipu Das and Ganesh Das, all local residents, and Pavan Thakur from Bihar

 

[pkd]

Six killed, 50 injured in twin blasts in Assam

Suspected ULFA militants triggered two blasts close to a police station in Nalbari on Sunday, killing at least six persons and injuring 50 others.

The first bomb, planted in a bicycle, went off at a spot adjacent to the police station at around 9:30 am, Superintendent of Police Jitmol Doley said.

A similar blast occurred minutes after in front of a mobile phone shop, about 20 metres away from the police station, as people were trying to flee from the area, he said.

Vehicles parked in the busy and crowded area were damaged due to the impact of the blasts.

The areas where the blasts took place have been cordoned off by the police, which was carrying out a combing operation in the area.

Prima facie the blasts seemed to be the handiwork of ULFA, according to police sources.

The deceased have been identified as Keshab Das, Dipu Das and Ganesh Das, all local residents, and Pavan Thakur from Bihar, Doley said.

A high alert has been sounded across the state in view of the blasts and people have been asked to remain indoors by the district administration. (With PTI inputs)

 

[skeptic9]

Satellite Television, Media, TV, Television, Assam, TV channel from North East, TV Channel, News and Views, News, Entertainment, Fashion, News Reader, Astrology, Newslive, News Live, assam news, north east news, news live tv, news live channel, newsl

 

[sairaawais]

who took responsibility of the blasts?

 

[Spring Onion]

who took responsibility of the blasts?

does it matter

 

[haawk]

guys there is already a thread on this......

http://www.defence.pk/forums/india-defence/39695-2-die-bomb-blasts-assams-nalbari-cnn-ibn.html

 

[Al-zakir]

2 bomb blasts leave 7 dead, 52 wounded in India



By WASBIR HUSSAIN
Associated Press Writer

GAUHATI, India -- Suspected militants set off two bombs outside a police station in India's restive northeast on Sunday, killing seven people and wounding more than 50, police said.

Five people died instantly after two blasts went off within minutes of each other outside the station in Nalbari town near the Assam state capital, Gauhati, a local police official said. Two people died later in a hospital, he said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the media, said what officials had earlier reported was a third bomb in a market a few miles (kilometers) away, turned out to be a firecracker.

At least 52 people were wounded in the two blasts, said Bhaskar Mahanta, Assam's inspector general of police.

India's northeast is beset by scores of conflicts. More than 10,000 people have died in separatist violence over the past decade. The region is home to dozens of separatist groups that accuse the government of exploiting the area's natural resources while doing little for the indigenous people.

Mahanta said authorities suspect the militant separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom is behind the blasts. No group claimed responsibility.

The bombers had parked two bicycles fitted with carriers packed with explosives outside the Nalbari police station, which is located in a congested part of the town, Mahanta said. These went off, killing passers-by and wounding the others.

Mahanta said police had received intelligence reports suggesting that the ULFA was planning to avenge last week's arrest of two of the group's leaders.

Last week, suspected ULFA rebels triggered a powerful explosion, derailing a freight train and setting more than a dozen oil tanker railcars on fire in Assam.

The ULFA has spurned the Indian government's offer to hold talks with them on condition that the group give up violence.
The Miami Herald

2 bomb blasts leave 7 dead, 52 wounded in India - World AP - MiamiHerald.com

 

[Bas_tum_Pak]

India have not blame ISI & Pakistan yet ??

 

[Xeric]

A sad news. Terrorism has just become quite a favorite game for some.

i think the indians should also deal with these ***bags forcefully or may be we would another crisis that Pakistan face now!