More bombs near Games complex

Guwahati, Jan 31 (UNI) Security agencies are spending sleepless nights as more bombs and explosive materials are being found in the vicinity of the National Games sports complex.

With barely week to go for the opening of the Biggest show of the North East, police today recovered another bomb from an unclaimed bag from Gorchuck area of the city.

The bomb was a powerful Programmable Time Device(PTD), generally used by the ULFA.

Police said that office-goers spotted the unclaimed bag and informed the police which found the bomb inside the bag. In another case, two days back another explosive material laden with IED was recovered when a stranger walked up to a house and kept the bag, saying it was for the tenant.

The incidents had sent shock waves and the security forces were sanitising the whole area. '' But it is too big an area and we are concentrating more on the sports complexes, '' said a senior police official.

The Army had already been brought in and the Sarusajai and Tepesia complex are being handed over to the Army till the Game is declared open by UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi.

The recovery of the two bombs had once again refocused the security angle as many state teams from across the nation had started assembling to move to Asom slowly.

Meanwhile, Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and briefed him on the law and order situation as well as the security measures being undertaken by the state government to ensure the peaceful holding of the 33rd National Games.

The Chief Minister also met Home Minister Shivraj Patil and discussed the security situation in the state.

Mr Tarun Gogoi was confident and optimistic and assured of a follproof security. '' I can assure you all that there will be foolproof security for the National Games. It will be much bigger than the 32nd National Games that took place in Hyderabad in 2002, '' Mr Gogoi told media persons today.

The February 9-18 National Games - being held after four years - has been a doubtful starter after separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) called upon the people of Asom to boycott the games.

ULFA's recent terror attacks had killed more than 80 people. But the Chief Minister said his government had appealed to the outfit to stop its terror activities.

'' There are different groups, which also called for the boycott of the games, but later they withdrew the sanctions. ULFA is the only one that has stuck to its call, and we are still appealing them to withdraw their call, '' he said.

Mr Gogoi said even if ULFA did not budge from its stand, the government was well equipped to handle the situation. He said it had been decided to deploy 20 companies of additional forces in Guwahati.

UNI