Guwahati Grenade Blast: TV Actress Among 2 Held For ULFA Links

At least 12 people were injured in the grenade blast that took place on Wednesday in Assam’s Guwahati.

Police inspect the blast site in Guwahati, Assam.

(Photo: ANI)

The Guwahati Police on Thursday, 16 May, arrested a person acting as a "sleeper cell" of the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) and a woman accomplice for their role in the grenade blast in Guwahati that injured 12 people.

The police identified the woman as author and actress Jahnabi Saikia.

"We have arrested Pranmoy Rajguru, who is a pro-talk faction ULFA militant. He was acting as a sleeper cell of the outfit and was responsible for arranging all the logistics," he said.

At least 12 people, including two SSB personnel and a woman, were injured in the grenade blast in front of a shopping mall in the heart of the city on Wednesday evening.

Rajguru, Kumar said, had joined the militant group in 1986 and is a senior cadre of the outfit.

“The woman, identified as author and actress Jahnabi Saikia, was his accomplice in the crime. The house was rented by her and they moved there on 1 May. They keep changing their locations.”

Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar

Kumar said both of them have confessed to their involvement in the grenade blast.

He added that the police have identified two-three more people for their role in the crime and investigation is underway to nab them.

Huge Amount of Suspected Explosive Materials Recovered

Guwahati Police on Thursday recovered huge amount of suspected explosive materials along with arms and ammunition from a house.

The police also recovered 20 kg of gunpowder, one 9 mm pistol, 25 rounds of live ammunition, ULFA documents, mobile phones and other "incriminating materials" from Rajguru and Saikia’s rented accommodation at Panjabari locality in Guwahati, Kumar told reporters, according to PTI.

A forensic team has also reached the spot and is carrying out investigation.

"We are investigating the case and are on the right track. We are on the lead," Kumar had said.

Kumar had on Wednesday, 15 May, told PTI that two people riding a motorcycle hurled the grenade in front of the shopping mall located at arterial R G Baruah Road, just opposite the state zoo around 8 pm.

Visiting the spot, DGP Kuladhar Saikia had said that a police barricade was set up in front of the mall to conduct routine checks of vehicles, and it is suspected the grenade was hurled aiming the police party.

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawans were on patrolling duty with Assam Police personnel near the barricade.

‘Strong Action To Be Taken Against Those Behind the Act’

Local TV channels reported that ULFA(I) Chief Paresh Baruah claimed responsibility for the blast, but the police refused to confirm it, saying a detailed investigation will bring out the truth, reported PTI.

A high-level security meeting was convened on Thursday evening between the administration, police and the owners of the malls, the Kamakhya temple management committee, other units of different temples and in-charges of prominent places, officials said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal strongly condemned the incident and asked the DGP to carry out a thorough probe to nab the culprits immediately.

"No one involved in this bomb blast will be able to escape. They will be arrested and punished. Strict instructions have been issued to the DGP in this regard," Sonowal said on Thursday.

(with inputs from PTI.)