Assam blasts: 40 killed, over 200 injured, ULFA suspected
Blasts took place at crowded mkt areas - Ganeshguri, Fancy Bazaar, Dispur Road and Pan Bazaar. Blasts in pics I Terror that recently shook Ahmedabad and Delhi
By PTI |
GUWAHATI: At least 40 people were killed and over 200 others injured in 13 serial blasts which rocked busy areas of Guwahati and three other districts in Assam on Thursday.
Ten persons have died in Guwahati which witnessed four blasts while 10 others were killed in Kokrajhar town where three explosions occurred, police said, adding the toll is expected to rise as many of the injured were in a serious condition.
Three bombs exploded in Barpeta district and one in Bongaigaon district, they said.
A red alert had been sounded across the state following the high intensity explosions that occurred almost simultaneously at around 11.30 AM triggering fires in many areas and leaving a trail of death and destruction.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been promulgated in Guwahati following the blasts which the police suspect to be the handiwork of the banned ULFA and HUJI extremists.
The first blast in Guwahati occurred at a vegetable and fruit market at Ganeshguri near the flyover adjacent to the high security secretariat and the Assembly. The blast caused a major fire in the area with smoke engulfing the entire market and nearby places.
The second bomb exploded in front of the Kamrup district deputy commissioner's office, injuring many and destroying several cars parked there, the sources said.
The third explosion rocked areas near the police station of the busy Fancy Bazar, triggering panic among shoppers, many of whom were injured, the sources said.
Guwahati Superintendent of Police G P Singh said that police and fire brigade were engaged in controlling the fire.
In Kokrajhar, the explosives were suspected to have been planted in a two-wheelers.
Ten persons have died in Guwahati which witnessed four blasts while 10 others were killed in Kokrajhar town where three explosions occurred, police said, adding the toll is expected to rise as many of the injured were in a serious condition.
Three bombs exploded in Barpeta district and one in Bongaigaon district, they said.
A red alert had been sounded across the state following the high intensity explosions that occurred almost simultaneously at around 11.30 AM triggering fires in many areas and leaving a trail of death and destruction.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been promulgated in Guwahati following the blasts which the police suspect to be the handiwork of the banned ULFA and HUJI extremists.
The first blast in Guwahati occurred at a vegetable and fruit market at Ganeshguri near the flyover adjacent to the high security secretariat and the Assembly. The blast caused a major fire in the area with smoke engulfing the entire market and nearby places.
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The second bomb exploded in front of the Kamrup district deputy commissioner's office, injuring many and destroying several cars parked there, the sources said.
The third explosion rocked areas near the police station of the busy Fancy Bazar, triggering panic among shoppers, many of whom were injured, the sources said.
Guwahati Superintendent of Police G P Singh said that police and fire brigade were engaged in controlling the fire.
In Kokrajhar, the explosives were suspected to have been planted in a two-wheelers.
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The Assam government on Thursday said that the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) may be behind today's serial blasts in the state, adding that it was too early to reach a conclusion.
Minutes after the explosions, Assam's Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters, "It is very early to make a conclusion but ULFA has a history of triggering serial blasts."
Sarma said the objective of triggering the blasts in crowded places was to claim maximum lives.
"Most of the bombs were planted in crowded places like markets and office complexes. So it shows that the perpetrators wanted high casualty," he added.
He further said one of the blasts took place close to the state capital complex in Ganeshguri.
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At least 26 people are feared dead and over 100 injured in 11 blasts that rocked different parts of Assam. At least four blasts were reported from Guwahati and five in Kokrajhar District.
According to official sources, one of the blasts took place in front of the Kamrup district Deputy Commissioner's office in Guwahati. Two other bombs exploded at Ganeshguri and Fancy Bazaar areas. Another blast took place in Barpeta district and two explosions occurred in Bongaigaon area.
The death toll is expected to go up.
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Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has called for an emergency cabinet meeting in Guwahati in order to take immediate precautionary measures to curb any further blasts. Download
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