Eight injured in powerful blast in Assam

Guwahati, Jan 22: A powerful blast rocked Srirampur checkgate at the entrance to Assam injuring eight people, three of them seriously, while suspected Dimasa militants kidnapped two Railway officials today.

Police said a powerful bomb blast shook the Srirampur checkgate adjacent to West Bengal at around 1130 hours. The bomb was kept in a bicycle which was placed in front of the transport checkgate.

Eight persons were injured in the explosion, three of them seriously. The injured had been hospitalised.

In the other incident suspected Dimasa militants barged into a railway complex in Halfong of NC Hills district and kidnapped section engineer Ashwini Kumar and P Duwara. The incident took place at around 0730 hours.

Meanwhile, security forces have stepped up patrolling all over the state following intelligence report that the ULFA was trying to create trouble before the Republic Day celebration.

UNI