Government officials received an e-mail claiming to be from the outfit, born about three years back and having mostly tea tribe people in its fold.
An Adivasi group is suspected to have triggered Sunday’s blast on the Puri-Guwahati Express in Assam’s Kamrup (rural) district that left over 100 people injured.
Government officials received an e-mail claiming to be from the Adivasi People’s Army, born about three years back and having mostly tea tribe people in its fold.
The police also suspect the same group.
“Investigation is on. However, we suspect the APA’s hand in the incident,” a senior police official told DNA. “Last month, they made an abortive bid to bomb the Guwahati-Kanchenjunga Express,” he added.
According to intelligence agencies, APA has firmed up alliances with the banned United Liberation Front of Assam and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland and is also trying to join hands with the Maoists.
“ULFA and NDFB have suffered severe losses since the past few years in the wake of continuous operations and splits in their ranks. So, they are now onto propping up the smaller groups to carry out subversive activities at their behest,” they said.
Meanwhile, a high alert has been sounded across the state in the aftermath of the blast. Official sources said security had been tightened at railways and all vital installations.
“Security has been beefed up across the state to thwart any possible attacks,” they said.
Sources from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said the IED blast damaged about 200 meters of the track. Seven bogies were derailed with two thrown away into a pond in the impact of the explosion.
“Altogether 37 passengers were injured. The railway ministry has announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh each to the grievously injured and Rs 10,000 each who sustained minor injuries,” the NFR said in a statement.
The Railways has ordered a probe into the incident. Railway safety commissioner Balbeer Singh has been entrusted with the job. He has been asked to submit his report within 10 days.
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