SIX KILLED IN ASSAM BLAST

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000189 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PHUM ASEC KCRM IN BG SUBJECT: SIX KILLED IN ASSAM BLAST REF: A) KOLKATA 177 B) KOLKATA 166 C) KOLKATA 149 ¶1. (SBU) On June 23 six persons were killed and nine injured in a blast, suspected to have been triggered by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA),in the capital city of Guwahati in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. The death toll included two minors. The blast, which took place in the Machkhowa area of Guwahati coincided with the one-day Asian Athletic Grand Prix in which about 200 athletes from India and abroad participated. A three-day local annual religious festival, Ambubachi Mela, was also being celebrated during the same period. The bomb, suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED),was planted on a bicycle and exploded few meters away from the vegetable market. Police sources suspect ULFA to be behind the blast, as it was similar to the blast which took place in Athgaon in the capital district on May 27 that killed six and injured about 25 persons. ¶2. (SBU) The State Government of Assam has announced an ex gratia of Rs. 300,000 (USD 7,390) to the next of kin of those killed in the blast. On the timing of the blast, a senior police official told media that "As foolproof security measures are being taken across Assam in view of the Asian Athletic Grand Prix and Ambubachi Mela throughout the day hours, the militant group probably changed their tactics to strike terror." It may be mentioned here that ULFA has been triggering blasts frequently in market areas (Fancy Bazaar, Athgaon, Machkhowa) of Guwahati. ¶3. (SBU) Meanwhile, Additional Superintendent of Police of Guwahati Rajen Singh informed media that following the blast, security had been stepped up in both Sarusajai Stadium and Kamakhya temple, the venues for Asian Athletic Grand Prix and Ambubachi Mela respectively. Media sources from Guwahati stated to Kolkata FSN that ULFA claimed it was not involved in the bomb blast. In a statement e-mailed to the media in Guwahati, ULFA spokesperson Major Raju Barua said the group was in no way involved in the blast that killed "innocent people." KELLY