On the eve of Durga Puja, a low-intensity blast jolts Pan Bazar; ULFA claims responsibility

The last moment shopping before Durga Puja has hit a roadblock in Guwahati. This morning at about 11.45 AM, a low-intensity blast in MG Road next to the bank of Brahmaputra river has left four injured.

The injured persons have been identified as Binita Das, Kalpajyoti Talukdar, Sanku Das and Taif Uddin Ahmed. All four of them are admitted in the nearby Mohendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital and as per latest report, the condition of victims including a woman is stable. 

Meanwhile, as per a local TV channel’s report, ULFA supremo Paresh Baruah has taken responsibility for the blast. The blast was conducted as a mark of protest against the conspiracy hatched for inclusion of Hindu Bangladeshis as Indian Citizens in the backdrop of NRC. In future also ULFA (independent) will continue its armed struggle warned the supremo. However due to some technical difficulties, the desired spot for conducting sabotage missed its mark said Baruah.

The Police, however, is still investigating the matter, “After the preliminary investigation, we are not sure if it is a sabotage activity or it was some other explosion,” said Joint Commissioner of Police.

“We don’t suspect it to be a bomb explosion as there were no splinters found and the injuries were due to stones hitting them,” said DCP Ranjan Bhuyan who is at the site. “We don’t suspect it to be a sabotage or terrorist activity from the nature of the blast. It happened in a dump of sand kept for roadside drain construction. It may have had an unexploded shell which went off today,” the DCP was quoted by News 18.

Guwahati has been put under high alert and security is beefed up in all commercial and busy areas.