ULFA bombs Guwahati to sabotage triple mega events

Guwahati, Jun 23 (UNI) Ridding roughshod over the much-vaunted security apparatus put in place for as many as three international events Guwahati hosted today, the outlawed ULFA bombed the precincts of one of the North East's oldest mosques, killing six people, early this morning.

DIG (City) GP Singh said the blast was targeted at sabotaging the mega events in the capital city.

Immediately after the blast, security arrangements for the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix, the Ambubachi Mela and a Thai delegation visit were reviewed, deploying extra forces to the venues.

The powerful blast that ripped apart a makeshift vegetable market, barely 20 metres from the Machkhowa Masjid, at about 0725 hours killed at least six people, all Muslims, and injured 16 others.

Mr Singh informed that the IED was kept in a vegetable basket on a bicycle, parked near the gate of the mosque.

While four were killed on the spot, two others succumbed on the way to the hospital. The dead included two minors.

The husband and a ten-year-old son of a block Congress leader were also among the victims.

The injured, mostly Muslims, were shifted to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.

Police suspect the hand of ULFA behind the blast, though the militant group is yet to owe it.

District Magistrate Avinash Joshi, who rushed to the spot, said, ''There was threat perception to the city and we had specific intelligence inputs. But in spite of tight security, the blast took place. It is a matter of serious concern.'' The militants appeared to have taken advantage of the light security arrangements in the morning hours.

Meanwhile, the blast also raised security questions over the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix today, as the bombsite was barely two km from where most of the athletes were staying.

The DIG said security has been reviewed after the blast.

The Army was already handed over the Stadium complex, making it bound for all the unauthorised personnel.

The Machkhowa bazaar is also not far off from Neelachal Hills where another three lakh pilgrims have descended for the annual Ambubachi Mela.

A Thai delegation, along with Union ministers Mani Shankar Aiyar and Jairam Ramesh, also arrived in the city today, making it a harrowing time for the state administration to maintain law and order in the city.

UNI