After mayhem life goes on in Guwahati

Guwahati, Nov 6 (UNI) A pall of gloom descended in this capital city of Asom after last evening's twin blasts which have claimed 13 lives till now with two more dying overnight.

As the sun rose scores of curious onlookers started pouring into Fancy bazar, the scene of the dastardly crime. A few people were seen trying to clean up the place, littered with severed limbs, broken glass panes, scrap of damaged vehicles and blood stains.

The shops downed shuters to mourn the deaths as well as to protest terror on the civilian people. The market is the supply line of perishable goods to entire Northeast.

While the traders remained indoors, the police appeared busy to instil confidence among the scared citizens.

Asom Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajay Singh this morning visited the spot and met the families of the victims.

Union Home Secretary VK Duggal is also exepcted here today following stepped offensives by the ULFA after the Centre withdrew truce last month.

Chief Secretary SK Kabilan is expected to convene a meeting of the Unified Command structure later this evening to review the situation.

The ongoing Duleep trophy match between North and East zones has been delayed by 45 minutes as the security forces frisked the entire stadium and the ground before allowing the players and officials to enter into the field.

Former India captain Saurav Ganguly, who is heading the East side, was given special security cover.

Police began investigation to trace the trails of the bomb blasts.

''In past, all bomb blast cases were solved and we caught the bomb planters. We hope success this time also'' said IGP SB Khagen Sharma. The ULFA is known to use school boys, women and daily wage labourer to plant bomb.

The police were alert in the vulnerable spots after a tip off since past one week and ULFA chose Fancy bazaar and Pathar kuwari, two virgin spots, for explosions.

The ULFA, so far has not claimed the responsibility.

The Government assrued free treatment to all the injured and announced compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

The figure for injured has now touched 57 and they have been admitted to Guwahati Medical College.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and almost all political parties and the students organisations have condemned the blasts.

The ULFA's frontal organisation Peoples Committee for Peace Initiative in Asom (PCPIA) also condemned the bombings and urged the ULFA and the Centre to restart the peace process.

UNI MT PC SK SND1315