Gauhati market blast kills at least four
A bomb exploded today in a crowded vegetable market in the Indian state of Assam, killing at least four people and leaving eight injured, police said.
Security forces quickly cordoned off the market in Gauhati, which was jammed with evening shoppers when the blast occurred, according to the officer.
The blast came hours after four overnight explosions across Assam wounded 34 people, mostly civilians. Police blamed those attacks on the state’s largest separatist militant group, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
“We have reports that ULFA had planned a three-day strike across the state beginning Thursday,” Assam police chief D.N. Dutt said shortly before the market bombing.
The militants had decided to launch their attacks before the government announced on Thursday that renewed talks would begin on June 22 with the “consultative group” that represents ULFA.
At least 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in fighting in Assam state over the past 15 years between the government and ULFA rebels and another separatist group, the National Democratic Front of Boroland.
None of the state’s separatist militant groups immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.
ULFA, which is fighting for an independent homeland in Assam, has demanded the release from prison of five of its top leaders before the June 22 talks, so they can discuss whether the group can hold direct negotiations with the New Delhi government.
“We have already recommended their release to the authorities in Delhi. We want peace back in the state,” said Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, the state’s government head.
The near-simultaneous overnight grenade explosions occurred in different parts of the state.
Dutt said 21 civilians were injured when a grenade was hurled at a busy market at Islampur, 50 miles north of Gauhati, Assam’s capital. Five passers-by were hurt when a bomb exploded near the Golokganj police station close to the border with Bangladesh in western Assam, about 185 miles west of Gauhati.
Three people were injured in the nearby Dhubri town, and four people – three civilians and a policeman – injured in Nagaon, 75 miles east of Gauhati, said N. Choudhury, a local police official.
