Bomb alerts hit life in Guwahati

Guwahati, Jan 24 (UNI) Several bomb alerts were sounded across Guwahati today, affecting life in many areas with security forces taking up positions and enforcing traffic restrictions.

However, most of these alarms proved ''ill-founded''.

The police was still pressed at work in various areas to probe the threats, affecting normal life.

The district administration has also instructed business establishments to shut down at 1730 hrs as even the enhanced security network has failed to check blasts being triggered during the past weeks.

The Serapbhatti area of the city was sealed for over two hours this morning following a bomb scare.

The area near the MLA hostel in Dispur-Supermarket was also cordoned off for several hours in the afternoon following reports of explosives planted near a specialty hospital in the locality.

The area is a short distance away from Ganeshguri, rocked by two blasts in the past two weeks in which three persons were killed and many injured.

Yesterday's blast in Adabadri area of the city was triggered by explosives kept in an unclaimed bag. Eyewitnesses said the explosion occurred when an alert shopkeeper tried to dispose of the unclaimed bag.

Adabari had witnessed another blast a couple of days ago.

With the Republic Day just two days away, more strikes were apprehended. The ULFA has already boycotted the celebrations and the past few years' record of the militant group indicates a bloody run up.

A top police official of the city said, ''Security is at a high for the Republic Day and National Games. Check points and frisking, besides regular patrolling, are on without any let up.'' After analysing the militants' strategy of targeting market places during the evening rush hours, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has directed shopkeepers to close down at 1730 hrs.

A GMC official said shop owners had been instructed to keep their establishments shut from 1730 hrs to 1930 hrs from this evening till at least the National Games next month.

Though closing down at the peak hours would hamper business, the businessmen were ready to shoulder the loss than risk security.

The GMC official added that most shopkeepers have agreed to comply with the direction.

UNI