By IRNA,
Guwahati, India : A massive security alert was sounded in India’s restive northeast ahead of Republic Day, even as there was a grenade attack Friday in Assam and the railways suspending running of night trains fearing rebel attacks.
A police spokesperson said a greande exploded Friday near a market at village Goilang in Chirang district, about 180 km west of of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.
“Motorcycle borne militants lobbed the grenade near a crowd of people, but it failed to hit their target with no casualties reported,” a senior police official said.
The police blamed the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) for the failed attack.
Meanwhile, the Indian railways Friday announced suspending running of all night train in Assam from 6 am of Jan 24 to midnight Jan 27.
“The decision to suspend running of night trains was taken keeping in view of security aspects and safety of passengers,” T. Hajong, railways spokesperson, said.
Five militant groups have called a general strike from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Republic Day, Jan 26.
The five rebel groups that have announced their boycott Wednesday through a statement e-mailed to journalists are the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF) – comprising several major militant outfits in the state – the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) and the Tripura People’s Democratic Front (TPDF).
These groups are active in Assam, Manipur and Tripura.
Militant groups in the northeast have for years boycotted national events to protest New Delhi’s rule over the region and stage violent attacks in the run up to the celebrations to make their presence felt.
Thousands of army, police and paramilitary troopers are standing guard in other northeastern states, particularly Manipur, where militants launched a grenade attack Tuesday near the residence of the state police chief. Three people were injured in the attack.
Militant groups often target vital installations like road and rail bridges, oil installations, besides attacking security forces as part of their design.
There are more than 30 rebel groups active in Assam with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.
More than 50,000 people have been killed in insurgency in the northeast since India’s independence in 1947.