Grenade blast in Assam, night trains suspended till R-Day
January 22nd, 2010 - 2:57 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, Jan 22 (IANS) A grenade attack took place in Assam’s Chirang district Friday and the railways suspended night trains fearing rebel attacks even as a massive security alert was sounded in the restive northeast region ahead of Republic Day.
A police spokesperson said a grenade exploded near a market in Goilang village in Chirang, about 180 km from Assam’s main city Guwahati.
“Motorcycle-borne militants lobbed the grenade near a crowd of people, but it failed to hit the target with no casualties reported,” a police official said.
Police blamed the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) for the failed attack.
Meanwhile, the Indian Railways Friday announced suspension of night train services in Assam from 6 a.m. Jan 24 to midnight Jan 27.
“The decision to suspend running of night trains was taken keeping in view security aspects and safety of passengers,” said T. Hajong, railways spokesperson.
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 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 the 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.
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- Goods train bombed, bus attacked in Assam ahead of R-Day - Jan 25, 2011
- Assam rail track blown up, two rebels killed in shootouts - Jan 24, 2010
- Security beefed up in northeast for I-Day - Aug 14, 2010
- Northeast under high alert, night trains cancelled - Aug 13, 2010
- ULFA bomber held in Assam, security alert in northeast - Jan 25, 2010
- Northeast separatists call Republic Day boycott - Jan 20, 2010
- Northeast defies I-Day boycott call - Aug 15, 2011
- Call to boycott I-Day celebrations in northeast - Aug 10, 2010
- Serial explosions in Manipur, bombs recovered in Assam (Lead) - Jan 25, 2010
- Northeast steps up security for I-Day - Aug 14, 2011
- People defy I-Day boycott call in northeast - Aug 15, 2010
- Tight security in Northeast as separatists call shutdown to boycott R-Day - Jan 26, 2010
- Northeast groups call for I-Day boycott - Aug 11, 2011
- Bodo separatists planning terror strikes in Assam: police - Sep 20, 2010
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