AGENCIES / WEB DESK
At least 8 people were injured when a grenade exploded near Zoo Road outside a branch of Punjab National Bank near Guwahati Central Shopping centre at around 6:20 PM today.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the grenade was thrown from a Tata Safari aiming a joint para military personnel and Assam police team. The injured have been taken to the hospital.
Police have cordoned off the area and have started their investigations. Preliminary reports suggest that the grenade was abandoned in panic by the attackers.
There was heavy police checking following intelligence inputs about United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) planning to carry out an attack, official sources added.
High alert has been declared in Guwahati following the blast. All entry and exit routes have been put under surveillance.
The injured which includes two SSB jawans were rushed to GMCH.
As per local media reports, banned ULFA-1 had claimed responsibility of the blast.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has strongly condemned the blast. The chief minister has directed the state director general of police (DGP) Kuladhar Saikia to set up an inquiry panel into the incident. The police have also been ordered to immediately nab the culprits responsible for the incident.
“Strongly condemn the blast in Guwahati this evening. Have directed authorities to rush to the spot and take stock of the situation. Also directed DGP to immediately apprehend the culprits and ensure the security of common people,” Sonowal said in a tweet.
Notably, earlier in the day, CM Sonowal had chaired a high-level meeting with the top officials of the home department and had directed them to ensure that necessary steps should be taken tocurb criminal acitivities in Guwahati and provide security to all, North East Now reported.