From Our Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI: At least eleven persons were injured in a suspected grenade blast in front of a shopping mall on RG Baruah Road on Wednesday evening, police said.
Health minister Pijush Hazarika, who visited Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), told the media that among the injured, five were admitted in GMCH, while the rest were being treated for ‘mild’ injuries in two other hospitals.
Preliminary reports indicate that the target of the peak-hour attack was a group of security personnel who were on naka checking duty at the point near Guwahati Central around 6:30 pm. The spot is very close to the Assam State Zoo.
The injured included two SSB jawans – Ramesh Lal and Amulya Lal – along with few passers-by.
Police cordoned off the area even as people milled around the spot where a “crater-like” mark was also seen.
However, police are yet to confirm the modus operandi of the attack or the organisation/group behind it.
City commissioner of police Deepak Kumar told the media that miscreants came on a motorcycle and threw the grenade.
The blast, suspected to have been caused by a grenade, occurred at a place just about 20 feet away from a police check post in front of the Central Mall.
The blast occurred during the rush hours on the arterial road during late evening.
He added that the details of the attack can only be confirmed after investigation.
The police commissioner said investigation was on into to the blast and exuded confidence to nab the culprits soon, even as he said that security measures in and around the city would be geared up by several notches with immediate effect.
He said the grenade that might have targeted the regular police check post at the location.
The police officials, however, claimed that any death due to the blast so far was yet to be confirmed.
According to an eye-witness, at least eight persons fell on the ground in the impact of the blast while onlookers and police personnel rushed to help the injured.
According to reports, Assam police have, of late, intensified checking following intelligence inputs about United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) planning to carry out an attack.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has condemned the incident and directed the director general of police to launch an investigation and take swift action against the perpetrators.
“Nobody would be allowed to commit such heinous crimes and strong action would be against those behind this dastardly act,” he said in a statement issued to the media.
DGP, Kuladhar Saikia and other senior officials rushed to the blast site to supervise the investigation.
Security reviewed
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called upon the police top brass to mull strategies for each police district of Guwahati in order to put a tab on criminal activities and provide security to every city dweller.
Chairing a high level review meeting with the top brass of the Home Department including Police, Chief Minister Sonowal made it clear that a fool-proof security cover should be ensured in Guwahati to curb criminal activities and provide security to all.
He further said to ensure safety, the cops of the city should go one step ahead and work on an exhaustive mapping to deal with the criminal activities sternly.
He also asked the Home Department to strengthen the intelligence gathering system and put in place a robust security system in the city.
Though Sonowal expressed satisfaction over the prevailing law and order situation in the city, he however, reiterated the need of strengthening security arrangements so that everybody in the city gets a sense of security.