Assam govt tries to gain control over situation post blasts

Guwahati, Oct 31 (UNI) A clueless Assam government today clamoured to gain control of the situation in the aftermath of the devastating serial blasts yesterday with both the civilian authorities and police top brass working to maintain law and order.

''This is the biggest challenge to my government and obviously the toughest days of my tenure,'' Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted last night, looking hapless as he chaired a meeting of the state Cabinet.

Meanwhile, most of the ministers chose to stay away from the mess as the administration, along with police top brass, was trying in vain to restore order in the face of irate mobs resorting to violence all over the blast sites and attacking police administration.

''We are trying our level best. This is an unprecedented tragedy and the value of the people's lives is most important,'' Assam DGP R N Mathur said.

Police, in fact, admitted that they could not do much investigations yesterday as they spent the entire day carrying bodies and injured people, while they had to control the mobs since this morning.

''It is quite difficult. We have not been able to make proper inquiries,'' ASP Debojit Deuri said.

With the arrival of VVIPs from New Delhi, including BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani and Union Home Minster Shivraj Patil, the administration was further tied down in providing them security.

Later in the evening, Mr Patil chaired a review meeting on the situation with the top brass of the Assam Police, Army and CRPF an urged them to step up the security.

Meanwhile, the NSG experts working on the investigations unofficially blamed 'Jehadi' elements to be responsible for the basts, establishing a connection with similar blasts in other parts of the country.

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