Two people were killed and several others were injured after suspected terrorists belonging to the anti-talk faction of the United Front of Assam's (ULFA) triggered a blast in Assam’s Sivsagar district on Thursday evening, police said.
Police said the blast took place at a hardware store belonging to one Kamal Agarwala. “While Agarwala was seriously injured in the blast, a customer who was present in the store, died on the spot.”
The police is investigating the matter and will detail “the exact nature of the blast after preliminary investigation”, said Sivsagar Superintendent of Police, Subodh Kumar Sonowal.
Locals said that Agarwala and his brother had earlier received an extortion demand from the anti-talk faction of ULFA militants.
The ULFA(Independent) had allegedly served an extortion notice on the shop owner a few days ago, police said, adding that the militants had also hurled a grenade at his shop about three years ago.
The ULFA(I) has stepped up its activities in upper Assam districts, and during the recent past, there has been a spurt of killings and kidnappings attributed to the outfit, including the killing of five people at Dhola in Tinsukia district.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned the incident and said the culprits would be brought before law.
Sonowal, who is currently in New Delhi, directed Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia to take immediate measures to nab those involved in the incident.
He termed the attack an "act of cowardice" and expressed his deepest sympathy to the bereaved families, an official release said.
The anti-talk Ulfa faction had on November 1 shot at a group of Hindu Bengalis in Tinsukia district in which five persons were killed.
(With IANS inputs)
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