2009 Guwahati bombings

2009 Guwahati serial blasts

The state of Assam (highlighted in purple), the location of the attacks, shown within the rest of India.
Location Guwahati, Assam, India
Date 1 January 2009 (+ 5:30)
Attack type
 suicide bombing
Deaths 6[1]
Non-fatal injuries
 67[2]
Perpetrators ULFA

The 2009 Guwahati bombings occurred on 1 January 2009 in Guwahati, Assam, India. They occurred a few hours before Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram was due to travel to the city.[3]

The bombing was carried put by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and left 6 people dead and a further 67 injured.

Details

Police confirmed that first blast took place near Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi TB Hospital at Birubari at 2.35pm, injuring five people, including a 10-year-old child. Another blast at the busy Bhootnath market near the famous Kamakhya Temple, killed two people instaneously and injured at least 25 others. Police said that a bomb was placed on a bicycle.[2] Incidentally, P Chidambaram was to pass Bhootnath on his way from the airport.[4]

The third blast occurred outside a Big Bazaar retail outlet at Bhangagarh, a commercial area near Guwahati Medical College (GMCH), at 5.45 pm. Bhangagarh is one of the poshest areas in Guwahati and is home to many shopping malls.[3] Three of the 34 people injured in the blast succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Police suspected that the bomb was kept inside a pan shop in the area.[2] Another person died in the hospital making the death toll 6.[1]

All three blasts were low intensity, carried using Improvised explosive devices (IED). Police say that the a biker placed the first bomb in a dustbin, the second one was placed on a cycle and third on the roadside. The second blast was the most powerful one. The third blast ignited a fire due to its proximity to a kerosene source.[4]

The injured were admitted to the GMCH and Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) and are reported to be in critical condition.[4]

Investigation

The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is suspected of having carried out the bombings.[4] [2]

Reactions

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted security lapses and expressed the need of strengthening the state police force.[4]

See also

References

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