Assam R-Day celebrations marred by blasts, curfew

Republic Day celebrations in Assam today were marred by three low-intensity explosions in Tinsukia district and an indefinite curfew at Maibong in Dima Hasao following a bandh call over the death of two people, who were injured in police firing yesterday.
Besides, the police said that an improvised explosive device (IED) and two gelatin sticks were found during a search operation in Lakhimpur district last night.
Three low-intensity explosions, suspected to have been triggered by ULFA (Independent) insurgents, took place at two places in Tinsukia district.
There was no report of any casualty, police said.
Two blasts occurred within a gap of a few minutes in a drain near the Jagun police station, and the other at the Tirap colliery near the Ledo police station.

Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters here that the explosions were of low-intensity and was carried out by ULFA (Independent) to prove its existence.

Investigations are on and security has been tightened in the district, police said.
In Dima Hasao, an indefinite curfew was clamped in the Maibong area yesterday following a clash between the police and a mob that attacked a train during a bandh.
Two people, who were injured in the incident, died today.
"While one person died on the way to a hospital in Guwahati, the other succumbed at a hospital this morning," a senior government official told PTI.

The mob had yesterday attacked a train at Maibong railway station and pulled out passengers to stop them from continuing their journey during a 12-hour Dima Hasao district bandh.
To control the situation, the police fired in the air in which 10 people were injured, sources said.
Various organisations in the district had called the bandh to protest the inclusion of Dima Hasao in Greater Nagalim.
Following the deaths, a 48-hour Dima Hasao district bandh was called by a number of groups, police said.
The Republic Day function at the Haflong, the district's headquarters, was cut short after hoisting of the tricolour as there was hardly any people present.

In Lakhimpur district, the police found explosives kept in a bag near a pond during a search operation in Nahorbari village in the Naoboicha area last night.
The police recovered an IED, two gelatin sticks and several metres of wire.
No arrests have been made so far and investigations were on, the police added.