KOLKATA EAC BOMBINGS IN ASSAM

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000300 SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC IN SUBJECT: KOLKATA EAC BOMBINGS IN ASSAM REF: NEW DELHI SPOT REPORT 10/30/08 ¶1. (SBU) On October 30, 2008, the Kolkata EAC met to discuss the multiple bomb blasts in Assam State. The CG, acting RSO, Mgmt, PAO and CONS were all in attendance. At the time of this writing, as many as 12 blasts occurred almost simultaneously in Assam's capital of Guwahati, and towns to the north, including Kokrajhar, Barpet and Bonbaigaon. As of now, all known Amcits have been accounted for. An official DOD contingent of 11 people from the Joint Prisoner of War - Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC) have been working in northeast Assam and Arunchal Pradesh and have been contacted and are all safe. ¶2. (SBU) Assam has been plagued with bombings and communal violence over the past years, including recent incidents on August 15, September 24, September 30 and October 8. On October 12, two bombs were recovered in Guwahati near the state assembly. In the last month at least 50 people have died in communal violence between indigenous Bodos and migrant Bengali-speaking Muslims. The EAC discussed the ongoing violence and unpredictability and agreed that a new travel restriction to Assam should be imposed for USG employees and their family members. This has been approved by Embassy New Delhi. Additionally, the EAC approved a warden message to be issued regarding the situation in Assam. ¶3. (U) Amconsul Kolkata will continue to monitor the situation in Assam. PAYNE