IB chief to assist Assam blasts probe

Guwahati, Nov 4: The Union Home Ministry has rushed Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief P C Haldar to Assam for assisting the probe in the serial blasts on Oct 30, which killed 82 and injured over 800. The IB Director, an expert on Northeast insurgency, was on a day-long visit to the state yesterday to help investigating agencies in their probe.

Mr Haldar had visited the state not merely as the IB chief, but also due to his long association with the region as his experience here would help in the investigations, state intelligence officials informed today.

The IB chief had served in various capacities in the region and is known in the intelligence circuit as an expert in Nagaland and Manipur insurgency. Moreover, he has also gained much respect for his critical analysis in the functioning of militant outfits and their activities.

During his visit to Assam yesterday, Nr Haldar is reported to have met top police officials and concentrated on collecting their views and examining the leads established so far.

He also called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for a customary visit. The investigating authorities construed Mr Haldar's visit as a step in ensuring that the IB chief's vast experience in the region is of utmost utility at this juncture.

The officials are, however, tightlipped about the progress of the probe, with a sketch of a suspect in the CJM campus blast here released today.

Altogether nine synchronised blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon on October 30 had left 82 dead and over 800 people injured.

UNI