2 killed as Ulfa triggers blast in Assam

Two person were killed after suspected militants belonging to the anti-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom's (Ulfa) triggered a blast in Assam's Sivsagar district on Thursday evening, police said.

Police said the blast took place at a hardware store belonging to one Kamal Agarwala.

"While Agarwala was seriously injured in the blast, a customer who was present in the store died on the spot. Agarwala was rushed to a hospital immediately but he succumbed to his inuries," police said.

The police is investigating the matter and will detail "the exact nature of the blast after preliminary investigation", said Sivsagar Superintendent of Police Subodh Kumar Sonowal.

Locals said that Agarwala and his brother had earlier received an extortion demand from the anti-talk faction of Ulfa militants.

The anti-talk Ulfa faction had on November 1 shot at a group of Hindu Bengalis in Tinsukia district in which five persons were killed.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal strongly condemned the act and said that miscreants responsible for the killing will not be spared.

The Chief Minister, who is in New Delhi, termed the incident as an act of cowardice. He said that the state police chief has been directed to take immediate measures to nab the culprits involved in the incident.

--IANS

ah/shs