Cycle bombs: compulsory registration in Guwahati

Guwahati, Aug 16 (UNI) The growing trend of militants using bicycles to plant bombs has made the Guwahati administration meditate upon measures to curb it.

As ''bicycle bombs'' are being used to create terror especially in busy market places due to its ''non-visibility'', the administration has sought the Guwahati Municipal Corporation's (GMC) aid in maintaining a record of bicycles in the city.

''The GMC could even bar the sale of bicycles without ensuring authentic identity proof of the buyer,'' GMC joint commissioner M P Sharma said, adding that it had already launched a massive drive for compulsory registration of bicycles against an annual charge of Rs 50.

Mr Sharma said affixation licence plates would also be made compulsory as it would help in detecting the owner of the bicycle, if used for blasts.

''The entire process of registration will be reviewed from time to time,'' he added. On chances of the ultras getting bicycles from the areas beyond the GMC jurisdiction, Mr Sharma said it would be less likely as bringing the bicycles from a distant place would invite attention of the people during its transportation.

The ULFA has been regularly using bicycles to plant bombs, moving away from their previously preferred means of two or four wheelers.

It is because of the fact that bicycles do not attract attention and a militant can easily park it at any place.

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