Blast incidents in Assam have anguished Assamese

The recent bomb blast in a passenger train at Diphu Railway Station in Assam's Karbi Anglong District was a reminder to the local Assamese of the serial bomb blasts in the State just over a month ago on October 30.

The recent blast incident at Diphu left at least three killed and 23 wounded. The blast went off in an Inter city passenger train at Diphu Railway Station about 300 kilometers east of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

The passenger train was heading from Lumding Railway Station to Tinsukia in Upper Assam.

Sameer Goswami, the Chief Public Relation Officer of the North East Frontier Railway, on the occasion said: "There was a bomb blast inside a second class general compartment coach. The position was third from train engine in which 2 persons were killed and so far we have got information on injury of 15 persons and it may be a little more in number."

Police are suspecting the hand of Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF), a militant group active in Assam.

Two hours after the morning explosion, a Karbi militant also gunned down two members of a Hindi-speaking family in Karbi Anglong district.

The string of events coincided with the KLNLF 'indefinite economic blockade' on national highways and rail tracks in the State.

Assamese have reacted strongly to the train blast. Residents believe that this incident will not help anyone and will rather delay any hope of returning peace and normalcy in the State.

Bibiram Deori, a local resident, said: "The blast in DIPHU left many people killed and injured. All of them were commoners. The government should provide security to the people and the talks should be held with the militants groups so that these things do not happen."

Rashmi, a local resident said: "People were already terrorized by serial blasts on October 30, and now there was a blast in DIPHU. The militants are creating problems for us by exploding bombs in passenger trains. We appeal to the militants to please don't cause disturbance in the lives of common people. The government should also take appropriate steps otherwise more people will be affected."

On October 30, at least 81 persons were killed and over 350 injured, in eleven places across four towns of Assam during the explosions. The blasts took place in Ganeshguri, Fancy Bazaar, District court area, Dispur Road and Paan Bazaar.

The violence has not only disrupted the general life but also severely affected the development of the State. By Peter Alex Todd