20 injured in ULFA blast in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: A powerful explosion triggered by the banned ULFA in the busy Fancy Bazar here on Friday left 20 people injured and sparked public protests.

A bomb concealed in a cycle-rickshaw went off at around 11:30 am at the market dominated by Hindi-speaking traders who have been targeted by the ULFA in recent weeks. A large number of shoppers were present in the area at the time.

The blast was so powerful that it shook the area and partly damaged concrete buildings, besides shattering window panes of several shops and offices.

The injured were admitted to nearby Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, city Superintendent of Police S N Singh told reporters at the site of the attack.

Total chaos prevailed immediately after the explosion and people began pelting stones at police for failing to provide security in the area.

Some businessman alleged the ULFA was frequently setting off bombs in the area to force them to sell off their properties cheaply out of fear.

When the protests appeared to be going out of control, police used teargas and batons to disperse the demonstrators.

Eleven persons were killed last year in a bomb blast by the ULFA at Fancy Bazar.

On May 14 this year, one person was killed and five were injured in nearby Athgaon when ULFA rebels triggered a blast.

Nine Hindi-speaking persons have been killed by the ULFA in Assam since Tuesday.

The ULFA killed nearly 70 Hindi-speaking people in early January.