Guwahati, March 16
Four persons, including three women, were killed and over 40 injured when suspected ULFA militants hurled a grenade at a festive gathering at Jonai in Dhemaji district last night.
The grenade was lobbed over a gathering of over 500 tribals of the Mishing community, who had gathered to celebrate Spring Festival. Local people enraged by the blast bashed up a 16-year-old boy suspecting him to be the one engaged by the ULFA to hurl the grenade. The police said 14 persons were admitted to Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh.
Meanwhile, the ULFA in a statement denied its involvement in the blast and stated that it was the handiwork of ‘forces’ that were out to defame its image.
Significantly, the ULFA is observing the raising day of its army wing today. It took a fresh vow to ‘liberate Assam’ and stated that it was for talks with India and plebiscite to find a solution to the ‘Asom-India conflict’.
