Bangladesh link traced in blasts;Assam face complete shutdown

Guwahati, Nov 3 (UNI) The terrorists were trained and indoctrinated in Bangladesh for Thursday's serial blasts in Assam, clarified state government spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma here today.

'' All terror links in the state connect Bangladesh as the militants got training and ideologies there, '' Mr Sharma told reporters.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday confirmed that the blueprint was drawn in Bangladesh or in Pakistan and pointed the needle of suspicion at across the border.

'' We are working on it with the Central Government, '' Mr Gogoi asserted and stressed on strengthening the intelligence mechanism and analysing the terror psychology.

'' We need proper documentation, research and analysis to read the minds of the terrorists and follow the trends in their activities to avoid more violence, '' he said adding the government was mulling engaging technology in taking on terrorism.

Refusing to divulge details of investigation, he said, '' I can only say the investigation is proceeding in the right and appropriate direction. '' In all five people had been arrested so far and several detained in connection with the serial blasts, which ripped the towns of Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon, Dr Sharma informed.

Four persons were held in connection with the vehicles used in the blasts, while a fifth was arrested for being the owner of the mobile phone connection from which the SMS was purportedly sent to a local satellite channel owning responsibility for the blasts, he stated.

Dr Sharma said sketches of two suspects in the CJM campus blast, drawn on the basis of description of an advocate, were ready and would be released once it was confirmed.

Meanwhile, life came to a grinding halt following the 11-hour All Assam Students' Union bandh, which ended peacefully barring reports of isolated incidents of stone pelting and train blockades from across the state.

Picketeers reportedly halted trains at a couple of stations in upper Assam, but the trains soon resumed its onward journey after the agitators were removed from the tracks.

AASU supporters were picked up from different parts of the state, though no major incident occurred.

All the business establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Few private vehicles plied on the roads and attendance at government offices was also minimal.

UNI SG SJC DB1845