Grenade Blast Near Guwahati Central Mall on RG Baruah Road

GUWAHATI: Breaking the long lull of subversive activities in the State, militants triggered a grenade blast on RG Baruah Road in Guwahati on Wednesday evening. . State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 12 people were injured in the incident. The injured include two SSB personnel also.

What bears significance is that the blast took place barely a few hours after Chief Minister Sarbananda reviewed the security scenario of Guwahati and asked the police to provide security to each and every dweller of Guwahati.

According to the local people, two motorcycle-borne youths lobbed a grenade targeting a few CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) and Assam Police personnel on security checking near Guwahati Central Mall on RG Baruah Road. Because of the mall and a few parks nearby, the area usually draws a sizable crowd in the evening, either for strolling or shopping.

Soon after the incident, police and other security personnel rushed to the spot. State DGP Kuladhar Saikia, Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar and other top police officers visited the spot. Investigation is going on. Forensic Science officials also rushed to the spot and collected samples from the blast site.

According to sources, the injured are under treatment in the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and other hospitals in the city.

The two injured SSB personnel have been identified as ASI Ramesh Lal (45) and constable Amulya Lalan (30). Both of them are under treatment in the GMCH. The other injured have been identified as Fardeen Hussain Rahman (21), hailing from Golaghat, Amit Kumar Kanthal, hailing from Geetanagar in Guwahati, Amit Kumar’s daughter Riya Kanthal (15), Sultan Jahidur Rahman (52), Bijoy Kumar Saw (22), Kalyan Baishya (28), Hirakjyoti Baruah (26), Lala Kumar Yadav (16) and Edward Hmar (18). The police, however, maintained earlier that 11 people were injured in the grenade attack.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister condemned the incident and said: “Whoever might trigger the blast, it’s an act of cowardice.”

The Chief Minister asked the DGP to intensify the search operation and investigation to arrest the culprits.

Meanwhile, the ULFA-I has claimed the responsibility for the grenade attack on security personnel.

DGP Kuladhar Saikia, on the other hand, said: “For a few a days the police have taken some special measures to bring about awareness among the people. Preliminary investigation into the blast has been started. In the past few days operations against militants have been intensified, making many of them surrender. Militants have felt the blow. Now we are to ascertain if this grenade attack on security personnel and the recent blow on militants have any connection. Our investigation is on.”

Minister of State for Health Piyush Hazarika rushed to the GMCH to take stock of those injured in the blast.

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