Violence unabated, Consulates alert foreigners

Guwahati, Jan 23 (UNI) The ULFA continued their spate of violence for the eight day, though there were no major casualties in their latest attacks.

Since last night there were three more incidents. A petrol pump was targetted near Changsri and a high speed train and a crowded market at Bongaigaon were also attacked.

However, damage and casualties in all three incidents were minimal.

Police said the grenade missed the fuel station, the second one exploded beneath a goods train while in the last explosion in Bongaigaon, some bystanders were seriously injured.

Meanwhile, Australia, Britain and the US issued warning to their nationals to keep away from the whole region.

''This message is issued to alert US citizens travelling to and residing in North Eastern India, especially Asom, of the serious security threat due to a series of recent killings and bomb attacks,'' said an alert posted on the website of the US Consulate General in Kolkata.

Similar alerts have been issued by Australia and Britain.

The Asom government, however, is determined to hold the National Games on schedule.

''The National Games will be on time, come what may. It is our challenge,'' Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said while speaking to newsmen at Silchar and Kolkata today.

Meanwhile, police said that at Changsari, militants riding a motorcycle late Monday, lobbed a grenade outside a fuel station on a highway near Changsari, about 35 km west of here.

''Two people waiting near the petrol pump were injured,'' a police official said. They were admitted to a hospital.

Yesterday night's attack was the eighth explosion in last week in which nine people were killed and 42 injured.

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