Central alert for Assam; political workers may be attacked

New Delhi, Mar 14: Days after the Centre issued an advisory to Assam that ULFA may target political workers in the state in the run-up to the forthcoming polls, a powerful explosion ripped through pradesh Congress' headquarters here today injuring at least five party members.

The Home Ministry last week conveyed that the ULFA's anti-talk faction led by Paresh Baruah may try to attack Congress workers ahead of the two-phased assembly elections on Apr 4 and 11.

The advisory was issued after Central security agencies gathered specific intelligence about the possible sabotage act to be carried out by the insurgent group.

Today's explosion at the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters came days after the advisory was sent by the Home Ministry.

After a group of ULFA leaders, led by ''chairman'' Arabinda Rajkhowa met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh initiated the dialogue process last month, Baruah's faction opposed the move and vowed to continue the armed insurgency movement in Assam.

The Centre has already dispatched 10,000 central paramilitary personnel to Assam to be deployed for election duties.

PTI