ASSAM ROCKED BY TWO BOMB ATTACKS, 26 INJURED

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000149 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PTER ASEC IN SUBJECT: ASSAM ROCKED BY TWO BOMB ATTACKS, 26 INJURED ¶1. (U) On Friday May 4 and Sunday May 6 at least 26 persons were injured in two separate bomb attacks in India's Northeastern state of Assam. In both incidents, the bombs were improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Assam Police suspect that ethnic separatist group the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) conducted the attacks. ¶2. (SBU) On Friday May 4, seven persons were injured when an IED in a Maruti Gypsy car exploded in Tinsukia district of Assam. While on Sunday May 6, the IED was in a motorcycle and exploded in the state capital Guwahati. In the Sunday attack as many as 19 persons were injured, including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer. Director General of Police R.N. Mathur told Post, "We suspect that both the blasts have been engineered by the ULFA and the only reason they could do that is to disturb peace. Unlike Guwahati's Sunday's blast, the market in Tinsukia district on Friday (blast site) was not crowded in the morning, hence the injury list was not high. They are retaliating as the police have been able to crack down heavily on ULFA militants." No arrest has been made so far in connection with these two blasts. ¶3. (SBU) Police sources do not agree with media speculation that the bombings are linked to the April 17 kidnapping of senior Food Corporation of India (FCI) official P.C. Ram by ULFA, for whom they have demanded a ransom of USD 5 million. Media sources told Post that the blasts could be in retaliation for the security forces' aggressive investigation of the kidnapping. JARDINE