Serial bombings crack Assam: over 60 killed, more than 300 injured

By Nanda Kirati Dewan | Friday, Oct 31, 2008 (01:10 am)

After a prolonged lull, once again terrorists have capitalized their angers on Thursday in Assam with a biggest ever bombings that left over 50 killed besides hundreds injured.

At least nine blasts have cracked the state in between 11.30 to 12 noon powerful in several places. Despite an elaborate security scenario to avert any untoward incident, serial blasts ripped apart the city areas on Thursday like Fancy Bazar and Ganeshguri, Panbazar while these areas were teeming with people in the busy hours.
Not only that. The tragic blasts were followed by some other blasts in Barpeta, Bongaigain, Barpeta Road and Kokrajhar districts leaving at least 47 people dead . Injured have been shifted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) and Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH).

Well placed sources informed this correspondent that the four blasts in Guwahati city occurred simultaneously at Ganeshguri, Kachari DC Court , market hub Fancy Bazaar and educational institution hub Paan Bazaar between 11.30-11.35 am. Of the four bombs, one at the Ganeshguri was planted in a car.
The entire grim scenario has forced the authorities to clamp curfew in the three city areas but towards the evening it was lifted. Schools, colleges and offices were left in disarray while the curfew was clamped. Even the mediamen were not allowed to move to the blast site. Red alert has been sounded across the state while the Kamrup district slipped into the Section 144 CPRC.

The scenario after the blast became grimmer. While screaming of those left injured, wailing by the relatives of those killed in the blast made the scenario more than described, an angry mob was quick to set on fire a police vehicle and a fire tender. As the situation was spanning out of control, a section of these people started attacking media people as well. This has forced police personnel on duty to open fire to disperse the mob.

Panic struck as all phone lines were jammed. The city has a wear and tear look now. Most of the blasts took place in busy marketplaces. Being the festival of Bhai Dooj, the markets were quite crowded which caused more casualties.

Photo: Ranjan K Barua

Author info

Nanda Kumar Dewan is our Senior Journalist covering Community Development & International Relations. He is a Mass Communication & Journalism graduate from Sikkim Manipal University (SMU). He started his journalism career with UB Photos News agency in 2006 as News Photo Caption Editor and Photojournalist. He has been associated with Assam Times since it's inception and today is a part of our editorial team.

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Permalink Submitted by PANKAJ CHAVAN on Fri, 31/10/2008 - 03:42

ULFA has already denied their hand in it. Assam the most neglected part in India. Nobody knows the truth that about 30% population of Assam is Muslims why? Due to illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Who has given them protection? Who are making them Indian Citizens all vote bank politics. This political party ruined our Assamese. Never put pressure to throw out these illegal migrants out of Assam instead played vote bank politics and has slept the rest of India about the truth in Assam. If nothing is done all the seven sisters of our country will be separated from us and we will not come to know why this has happened. Only solution to this is that Assamese majority community should unite, should have one voice. If this danger is not sighted by majority community than their Religion will be nowhere in the world.

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Permalink Submitted by Gerry M on Fri, 31/10/2008 - 08:14

I work in the oil and gas industry, i have been to Assam to train Indian people, but I will NEVER go back to Assam, not until you get your act together and get rid of the extremists.

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Permalink Submitted by Juri Gogoi on Fri, 31/10/2008 - 18:29

Really a pathetic situation! Now, who can protect Assam and how. No one knows the reality but ultimately suffers the general poor public of the state. What Government can do, what security can do, what other relevant organizations can do; nothing else except showing their sympathy. This is just the beginning or a warning? People are fighting among each other proving their power, their authority, their identity but we must be aware of that ASSAM IS OUR MOTHERLAND. We must think and care of our mother before we step forward from every angle. If we make hole in our own plate where will we eat ????