A pall of gloom descended in Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, after Sunday evening's
twin blasts that claimed 13 lives with two more injured dying overnight.
As the sun rose, scores of curious onlookers started pouring into Fancy bazaar, the scene of dastardly crime, and scouting from safe distance where the bomb went off and blood stained streets. A few brave souls were seen trying to clean up the place, littered with severed limbs, broken glass panes, scrap of damaged vehicles and blood stains.
The shops downed shutters to mourn the deaths as well as to protest the terror attack on the civilians. The market is supply line of perishable goods to the entire Northeast. While traders remained indoors, the police appeared busy instilling confidence in the scared citizens.
Assam Governor Major General (retd) Ajay Sinha visited the spot on Monday morning and met the families of the victims. Union Home Secretary V K Duggal is also expected in Guwahati following stepped up offensives by the United Liberation Front of Assam after the Centre withdrew truce last month.
The ongoing Duleep trophy match between North and East zones has been delayed by 45 minutes as the security forces frisked the entire stadium and the ground before allowing the players and officials
to take field. Former India captain Saurav Ganguly, who is heading the East side, was given special security cover.
Meanwhile, police has begun investigations into the bomb blasts.
"In the past, all bomb blast cases were solved and we caught the bomb planters. We hope to achieve that this time also," said Inspector General of Police S B Khagen Sharma. The ULFA is known to use school boys, women and daily wage labourers to plant bomb.
The police were alert in vulnerable spots after a tip off since past one week and ULFA chose Fancy bazaar and Pathar kuwari, two virgin spots, for explosions. However, the ULFA has not claimed responsibility so far.
It was not expected that the outfit will come out with comment where many civilians were butchered. The government has assured free treatment for all the injured and announced compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
The injured figure has now touched 57 and all have been admitted to Guwahati Medical College.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and almost all political parties and students' organization have condemned the blasts. ULFA's frontal organisation Peoples Committee for Peace Initiative in Assam also condemned the bombings and urged the ULFA and the Centre to restart the peace process.
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