By IANS,
Guwahati : The northeast is not unfamiliar to terror, but Thursday’s strike is definitely the deadliest that shook Assam.
“No doubt this is the worst ever terror strike in Assam, but we are committed to dealing with the situation with a very strong hand,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
At least 61 people were killed and about 300 injured after 12 bombs went off within an hour in parts of western Assam Thursday morning.
The police have found preliminary evidence that the terrorists may have used PE3, an RDX-based plastic explosive used by major terror groups.
While no terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility, state officials said the needle of suspicion was pointed towards the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
“We need to ascertain if the ULFA has been aided by other forces or whether the blasts have been carried out jointly by the ULFA and other forces,” said Assam Home Commissioner Subhash Das.
Assam has seen insurgency since 1979 with the start of ULFA activities.
More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in this state during the past two decades.
As far as the northeast is concerned, the region has witnessed insurgency right since India’s independence beginning with the Naga insurrection, the Mizo guerrilla warfare, and insurgencies in Manipur and Tripura as well.
There are an estimated 30-odd rebel armies in the northeast with at least half of them fighting for demands ranging from secession to autonomy.
According to estimates, up to 50,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in the northeast.