Blast kills one, bombs found as terror returns to Assam
Guwahati, Sep 1 (UNI) Terror returned to insurgency-wrecked Assam as suspected Ulfa militants today exploded a powerful IED, killing one person and injuring 12, even as another major strike was averted with police recovering three live bombs from a crowded passenger bus bound for the capital city.
The Improvised Explosive Device went off at around 1145 hrs in a busy vegetable market near Gate No 5 in the Bamunimaidam area of the city. Police said the bomb was kept in an auto van, parked along the roadside.
''A gas cylinder, which was also in the van, intensified the impact of the blast,'' said government spokesperson and state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A commuter died on the spot while at least 12 others, including some local traders, were injured and later shifted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital where the condition of three was stated to be critical, the spokesperson said.
Senior police officials, including DIG GP Singh and City SSP S Kumar rushed to the spot.
An anguished Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi instructed the police top brass to review the city's security afresh.
He said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the blast.
The Bamunimaidam area has been a soft target of the ULFA, with the outfit triggering frequent explosions in and around the place.
Police averted another simultaneous tragedy today when they recovered three live IEDs from a passenger bus plying from Nalbari to Guwahati. Acting on a tip off, police intercepted the bus near Rangiya and found the three live bombs, triggering a panic among the passengers.
Two passengers have been arrested in this connection.
UNI


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