Huge quantity of 'explosive materials' recovered in Guwahati

Pic courtesy/Twitter/All India Radio

Guwahati: A day after a grenade blast where12 person were injured, Guwahati Police on Thursday recovered huge amount of suspected explosive materials along with arms and ammunition from a house. A couple has also been taken into custody for interrogation in connection with this case, police sources said.

The police started their investigation at the house in Panjabari locality of the city and recovered large quantities of materials used in making bombs, a laptop, arms and ammunition and other incriminating goods. A forensic team has also reached the spot and is carrying out an investigation. "We can only confirm that suspected explosive materials have been recovered during the search operations," a senior police officer stated present at the site. According to police sources, "The house was taken on rent about a month back by a woman and a person, suspected to be a pro-talk ULFA militant used to visit her."

When asked, Deepak Kumar, Guwahati Police Commissioner, he declined to divulge details. "We are investigating the case and are on the right track. We are on the lead," he said. At least 12 persons, including two SSB personnel and a woman, were injured in the grenade blast in front of a shopping mall in the heart of the city on Wednesday evening. Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar stated, "Two persons riding a motorcycle hurled the grenade in front of the shopping mall located at arterial R G Baruah Road just opposite the state zoo around 8 pm on Wednesday." DGP Kuladhar Saikia while visiting the spot had said that a police barricade was set up in front of the mall to conduct routine checks of vehicles, and it is suspected the grenade was hurled aiming the police party.

"The SSB jawans were on patrolling duty with Assam Police personnel near the barricade. Local TV channels reported that ULFA(I) chief Paresh Baruah claimed responsibility for the blast, but the police refused to confirm it, saying a detailed investigation will bring out the truth. A high-level security meeting has been convened on Thursday evening between the administration, police and the owners of the malls, the Kamakhya temple management committee, other units of different temples and in-charges of prominent places," officials said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal strongly condemned the incident and asked the DGP to carry out a thorough probe to nab the culprits immediately. "Nobody would be allowed to commit such heinous crimes and strong action would be against those behind this dastardly act," he had said.

Top News Stories Of The Day

• Aditya Pancholi claims he was threatened with a rape case, submits video
• Mumbai: Kids show how to sort out Vile Parle's traffic woes
• Mumbai: BPO firm asked to pay Rs 2.62 crore or face recovery proceedings
• Mumbai: Narrow approach stalls Jogeshwari project
• Pune: Honest janitor returns mangalsutra worth Rs 2 lakh
• Deven Bharti is new ATS chief, Maharashtra
• Mumbai: HC refuses to vacate stay on BMC's Tree Authority
• Medicine shortage: BMC blacklists rogue supplier
• Dadar's Chitra Cinema to shut down; SOTY 2 to be its last day last show
• Nick Barnes: Power to humiliate has increased dramatically
• Action should follow new BMC chief's promises
• Ramona Narang: The transformation of high society's once wild child
• Aranya Johar: The 20-year-old poet who is taking the internet by storm
• A walk through Mohammed Ali Road's Khau Galli
• Interesting facts about the Holy Month of Ramzan

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from Agencies