From Our Correspondent
TURA: An explosion took place in the compound of a petrol station at Barengapara border town on Sunday evening believed to have been triggered by militants but there were no casualties reported.
The incident took place just before 7:30 pm when the petrol pump was closing down. A strange device was thrown at the pumping machine and it landed on the ground triggering a loud explosion and sending the workers of the pump to flee for safety.
Police have not ruled out the use of either a petrol bomb or a hand grenade in the incident which occurred just a few hundred yards from the Dalu police station.
“We suspect it could be a petrol bomb thrown by someone since there is a strong odour of kerosene and petrol at the site of the blast but we are also looking into the possibility of the explosion being caused by a grenade. So far we have not found the pin or any part of the device,” West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Mukesh Singh said over phone.
According to locals from the area, the sound of the blast that occurred could be heard over a long distance.
The petrol station belongs to a businessman from Tura.
However, no one could ascertain as to who and from where lobbed the explosive in view of darkness.
Police have deployed armed guards in the area and are planning to expand their search in the morning to seek out evidence as to what caused the explosion.
The hand of militants in the attack, particularly those from the GNLA have not been ruled out either.
The GNLA militants along with ULFA militants use the Dalu-Barengapara corridor to cross to and fro neighbouring Bangladesh where they have support bases.