21 killed, many hurt in series of ULFA attacks

Guwahati, Jan 6: At least 21 people were killed and several injured, some of them seriously, when suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) ultras triggered a series of blasts and attacked establishments in Upper Asom's Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts during the last 24 hours.

Militants of the banned outfit triggered off five blasts in Tinsukia district alone.

The death toll might rise as confirmation from some far flung areas of the district were still awaited, official sources said here.

Meanwhile, the Director General and Inspector General of Asom police have rushed to the affected districts to take stock of the situation.

Asom Minister Prithi Mazi had also rushed to the site for an on the spot study, the sources said.

The rebels, mainly, targeted two brick kilns and traders in both Tinsukia and Dibruarh districts.

The series of blasts followed just 30 hours after Union Home Secretary V K Duggal expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements for the 33rd National Games to be held here next month.

According to reports, a ten-member group of ULFA militants barged into the brick kiln at Tiwariguka under Duliajann police station in Tinsukia district last evening and fired indiscriminately, killing four labourers on the spot and injuring three.

In a similar operation, the ultras entered another brick kiln at Namsaki village under Jaipur police station in Dibrugarh district, and mowed down three labourers of the brick kiln. The owner of the kiln was among the injured, the sources said.

In another incident, two traders were killed by the rebels at Bandarkhaipi under Doomdooma police station in Tinsukia district. It was followd by the killing of four traders in the nearby Longswal Bazar. Five civilians were also injured in the incident.

A person was killed in another blast in Tinsukia district at Dighaltarang village later in the night, the sources said. Seven more were killed at Sadya by the rebels, the sources said.

UNI