Agartala's hit by terror, Islamic militants suspected

Agartala, Oct 2 : Terror struck Agartala, the capital of Tripura on Wednesday evening when five bombs went off within 30 minutes in crowded market places and a bus stand.

Two persons were confirmed dead and about 76 injured in the five blasts of which at least two of the blasts were powerful.

The injured were taken to the nearby hospital. According to sources in the hospital some of the injured are in critical condition.

The first blast went off at Radhanagar bus stand around 7.30 P.M. Explosions in other places followed in quick succession.

The other blasts took place at the popular Gol Bazar and almost simultaneously at the GB Market.

Central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Agartala and a red alert has been sounded in the state. A National Security Group (NSG) team has reached here to investigate the blast areas.

Most victims were out shopping on the eve of Eid ul Fitar and for the coming Durga Puja.

Police officials suspect that timer devises were used to trigger the explosions.

Tripura's two main insurgent groups, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), do not have a history of carrying out bomb attacks on civilians, however, a possible link between these two outfits with Bangladeshi Islamic fundamentalist terror groups like Harkat ul-Jihad-e-Islami (Huji) has not been ruled out by security agencies.

Tripura has a long border with Bangladesh and intelligence agencies point to the presence of senior leaders of both NLFT and ATTF in Bangladesh and they may have offered logistical support to Huji.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said two persons riding a motorcycle were seen moving suspiciously at Radhanagar bus stand and the blast took place about three minutes after they left the area.

Central intelligence agencies had on September 25 warned northeastern states of an impending terror attack and Border Security Force (BSF) officials here confirmed having received the input. The state was on alert for possible attacks ahead of Durga Puja and Dussehra.

ANI