Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KOLKATA149
2007-05-07 11:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

ASSAM ROCKED BY TWO BOMB ATTACKS, 26 INJURED

Tags:  KCRM PTER ASEC IN 
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VZCZCXRO7355
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0149 1271125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071125Z MAY 07
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1538
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1453
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0639
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0634
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0410
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0271
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0416
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1895
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


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