Independence Day: 6 blasts in Assam, no casualties

In an obvious attempt to make their presence felt, the anti-talk faction of Ulfa on Monday triggered a series of six explosions in Eastern Assam’s Tinsukia and Chraideo districts when the state was celebrating 70th Independence Day.

There was no casualty or injury as the police claimed that these improvised explosive devices were planted in abandoned or isolated areas of the districts.

The serial blasts started early in the morning as first explosion was reported at about 7.15 am from Tinsukia district where one after another four explosions were triggered by suspected Ulfa (I) rebels.

The police said that an improvised explosive devise (IED) went off near Indira Gandhi School at Laipuli area on the outskirts of district headquarters of Tinsukia town.

This was followed by another blast in line no.6 of Badlabhata Tea Estate in Doomdooma area where the third IED was also set off at Masuwa, police said.

The fourth IED exploded at Gamtumati in Philobari area where Ulfa (I) militants on August 12 night had shot dead two Hindi speaking people and injured six others in indiscriminate firing at Bahbon village.

Police said that Ulfa (I) also triggered a explosion at an abandoned place under Tengapukhuri police outpost of Chiradeo district. In what was more alarming, security forces recovered a banner of Ulfa (I) with a warning to Hindi-speaking people of the state.

The Ulfa (I) threatened Hindi-speaking residents of the state to remain alert as they are on their target.

Assam director general of police Mukesh Shahay told reporters that most of explosions took place in isolated areas, which were unguarded. He however asserted that police force was prepared to take such elements head on.

Though, these explosions failed to intimidate the people who came out in large number across the state to celebrate 70th Independence Day of India.