Guwahati: At least 20 people, including a policeman, were injured as suspected militants triggered an explosion on Monday evening in Dudhnoi in western Assam’s Goalpara district, police said.
Superintendent of Police Nitul Gogoi confirmed that a policeman was injured in the blast along with civilians. The blast site is close to the Dudhnoi police station, police said, adding that they were yet to ascertain the exact nature of the explosives.
The blast comes on a day Assam voted in the first phase to elect a new government. Golpara goes to polls in the second phase of assembly elections on April 11.
Authorities suspect the hand of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in the blast. Notably, ULFA indulges in such militant activities everytime during elections in the state.
According to reports, three policemen were among the injured. According to a senior police official, the explosive device was kept inside a dustbin.
The injured are being taken to the government hospital in the area, the official said.
The site of the blast was also close to the local office of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The police have launched a probe and it isn't clear yet who was behind the attack.
More than 1.99 crore electorates will seal the fate of 1,064 candidates in 65 constituencies spread over 14 districts in the first phase of the 126-seat Assam assembly polls. Incumbent Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of the Congress and BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal are two major politicians in fray from Titabar and Majuli (ST) constituencies respectively in this phase.
(With agencies)
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