Day after Assam blasts, NSG starts probe

Guwahati, Oct 31 (UNI) A day after the most devastating terror attack ripped apart Assam leaving over 70 dead, NSG sleuths today started investigations to pick up clues and find some trail.

This morning, the NSG experts visited the bomb blast spots after sealing off the entire area and picked up some vital clues. The NSG experts did not speak to the media but Assam Police top officials admitted that all the five blasts of the Guwahati city were caused by car bombs.

Meanwhile, BJP leader L K Advani arrived from New Delhi this morning and visited the blast-affected areas of the CJM court and MMC hospital.

Altogether 12 highly powerful bombs ripped apart lower Assam and Guwahati city leaving behind a trail of devastation that were reminiscent of Baghdad as dozens of cars were burnt.

This angered common people, who took to the street chasing and beating policemen, destroying government properties and forcing authorities to fire in air and clam curfew in the Guwahati city for a brief period.

Assam Government has formed a special task force to investigate the case while experts from Union Home Ministry arrived in two separate batches to ascertain the involvement of Jihadi elements.

ULFA had already denied their hand in the blasts and senior police officials confirmed that suspicion was on the Jehadi elements.

''The needle of suspicion points to jehadi outfits that are behind subversive activities in the state,'' IGP (Special Branch) Khagen Sharma told mediaersons last evening.

''The Jehadi elements, including Bangladesh-based Huji, could be working in groups or individually,'' the senior police official said adding, the modus operandi pointed to their involvement.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, however, stopped short of identifying the outfit but said for him Huji or ULFA make no difference. ''They are simply terrorists.'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil are arriving here tomorrow.

While addressing a press conference later last evening the Chief Minister informed that altogether 71 people were killed including 35 in Guwahati, 21 in Kokrajhar and 11 in Barpeta Road.

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