'Militants behind Assam blasts have foreign backing'

Guwahati, Nov 3: Without naming any country, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday, Nov 3 blamed disruptive forces with foreign backing for the recent blasts in the state. "Forces inimical to Assam have been existing in Assam for a long time and there is no doubt that they get full backing and shelter in foreign soil," said Gogoi. "We have repeatedly made it clear that as long as these forces get shelter in foreign soil, it is very difficult to contain them," Gogoi added.

Gogoi's statement came in the backdrop of 12 high-intensity serial blasts that rocked Guwahati and some other cities of lower Assam on Thursday, Oct 30 killing over 70 people and leaving over 300 injured.

Meanwhile, the activists of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) took out a protest march to the Governor's office demanding dismissal of Gogoi's Government on Sunday, Nov 2.

They also handed over a memorandum to the Governor Shiv Charan Mathur.

"Today the common man of Assam is against the State Government and is unhappy. The AGP has decided to stage a demonstration in front of the honorable Governor's residence. We want that the Governor should consider the appeals of the common people of Assam and expel the ruling Congress Government led by Tarun Gogoi. These are our demands," said AGP President Chandra Mohan Patowary.

The State Home Department has indicated that there is clear evidence of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)-jihadi hand behind the blasts.

Intelligence official reportedly stated that Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI) carried out the blasts.

Indian Mujahideen, a frontal organisation of HUJI and Lashkar-e Toiba - has claimed responsibility for Assam serial blasts. It made the claim in an SMS sent to a local TV channel.

ANI