2009 Guwahati serial blasts
Location	Guwahati, Assam, India
Date	January 1, 2009 (+ 5:30)
Attack type	low intensity
Death(s)	6[1]
Injured	67[2]
Perpetrator(s)	ULFA

Three serial blasts hit Guwahati, the capital of the Indian state of Assam on January 1, 2009, hours before home minister P Chidambaram visited the city.^[3] The blasts occurred in the areas Bhootnath, Birubari and Bhangagarh.

At least six deaths and 67 injuries have been reported.^[1]

Contents 1 Details 2 Investigation 3 Reactions 4 See also 5 References

[edit] 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 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]

v • d • e Terrorism in India since 2001 Attacks with 50+ deaths in bold Indian Parliament attack – Srinagar – Akshardham Temple attack Kolkata 2002  – Rafiganj rail disaster  – Mumbai 2002 – 1st Mumbai 2003 – 2nd Mumbai 2003 – 3rd Mumbai 2003 – Ayodhya – Delhi 2005 – Jaunpur 2005  – Varanasi – Jama Masjid – Mumbai 2006 – Malegaon – Samjhauta Express – Mecca Masjid – Hyderabad – Uttar Pradesh – Jaipur – Bangalore – Ahmedabad  – 1st Delhi 2008 – 2nd Delhi 2008 – Western India – Agartala – Imphal  – Assam 2008 – Mumbai 2008  – 1st Guwahati 2009  – 2nd Guwahati 2009

[edit] Investigation

The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is suspected of having carried out the bombings.^[4] Some army officials suspected the hand of Bangladesh-based Islamic Fundamentalist groups, who could have slipped in Assam and other northeastern states fearing action by the newly-elected government of Sheikh Hasina Wajed.^[2]

[edit] Reactions

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

[edit] See also

• 2008 Assam bombings

[edit] References