Seven killed in blast: chaos, panic prevail in Asom

Guwahati, May 26 (UNI) Seven people were killed in the biggest bomb blast in Guwahati this morning, setting in chaos and panic amongst the common people.

The ULFA caused the blast, killing five on the spot and injuring 18 others, leaving a trail of destruction in the busiest district of the city.

The Centre has decided to send more forces to the city as first three weeks of the month alone saw seven bomb blasts.

Meanwhile, Kamrup Chamber of Commerce have called for Guwahati Bandh on Monday while Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admonished the top brass of Asom police for failing to bring a halt to the blasts.

The bomb this morning was kept in an auto-rickshaw which was also carrying a LPG cylinder and as a result, the blastis impact was worst. Even people standing on the fifth floor of a nearby building also received splinter injuries.

Five of the victims have been identified as Nirmal Dey, Md Anwar Hussain, Mokran Ali, Narendra Deka and Partha Shah. The other deceased could not be identified so far as their bodies were badly mutilated.

Meanwhile, another very powerful bomb was recovered from Delhi bound Brahmaputra mail and immediately it was defused at Kokrajhar railway station.

The eight kilogram bomb would have caused catastrophe had it not been sighted by a passenger of the train which was immediately stopped at Kokrajhar station.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reviewed the law and order situation on the eve of the Congress government celebrating the first year in office of the second term but the ULFA threatened more bombings in the city in the next 48 hours.

BJP state president Ramen Deka demanded President's rule in the state while AGP asked the government to resign on its first anniversary.

The common people, fed up by the series of bombings, have also launched a SMS campaign demanding President's rule in the state.

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UNI