Jonai bandh, ULFA bombing continues

Guwahati, Mar 17 (UNI) Jonai today observed a spontaneous bandh against the ULFA bombings that killed four persons on Saturday night.

Official sources today said another blast had killed a youth, identified as Satyajit Dutta, who was carrying two bombs, at Sonari last night.

As the security forces were carrying a combing operation, the youth while fleeing fell and one of the bombs went off severing his limbs and heart. The securitymen, however, defused the other bomb.

The militant was targeting the Sonari police station, police said.

ULFA's 'Army Day' programme ended on a bloody note with at least four persons were killed and nearly 50 injured in the blast at a festival spot at Jonai in Assam's Dhemaji district just after midnight on Saturday. The blast occurred when hundreds of Mishing community people had gathered to celebrate 'Ali-Aie-Lrigang'.

One person died on the spot while three others succumbed later.

The deceased identified as Bina Pegu, Kavita Sonowal, Suresh Suthdradhar and Shahjahan Ali.

Fourteen of the critically injured were shifted to the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. Nearly 30 others, who received minor injuries, were admitted to the Dhemaji civil hospital.

The ULFA, in an e-mail has denied its involvement in the blasts.

The police confirmed that it was an IED device, a not a grenade.

UNI MT PC AB 1428