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Rediff.com  » News » 2 terrorists behind Guwahati blasts identified

2 terrorists behind Guwahati blasts identified

By K Anurag in Guwahati
Last updated on: January 02, 2009 16:52 IST
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Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday informed that Assam Police had identified two of the three terrorists, who had planted three bombs in Guwahati on Thursday and was hot on their trail.

"I have full faith in Assam police and am confident that they will capture them," he said.

Chidambaram visits blast victims, promises action

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit the blast victims under going treatment in Guwahati Medical College Hospital later in the evening on his arrival at the city. The prime minister is travelling to Shillong on Saturday to attend Indian Science Congress.

After chairing a two-hour security review meeting of the counter-insurgency Unified Command structure with senior officials of Assam Police, Army, paramilitary forces, intelligence officials along with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati this noon, Chidambaram promised a 'sharply focused operation strategy' to counter threat from terrorists.

"No quarter will be given to terrorists. Broad guidelines will be given to the Army, paramilitary forces and police operating under the Unified Command against terrorists," Chidambaram said, adding that anyone posing threat to peace and development in the country would be dealt with severely by the security forces.

Dropping hint that elected government in Assam should focus on development while allowing the security forces to tackle the menace of militancy, Chidambaram said, "I request the chief minister to focus his entire energy on development. The security forces will deal with terrorists in a most severe manner."

Referring to terrorists' leaders getting shelter in Bangladesh, Chidambaram said, "Most disturbing for us is that leaders of at least two banned terrorist organizations have found sanctuary in Bangladesh which didn't have an elected government for some time."

"Fortunately, the election was held in Bangladesh and the Prime Minister elect (Sheikh Hasina) has made a very positive statement to join India in fighting terror. We hope for a new beginning with the new regime in Bangladesh in our effort to neutralise terrorist leaders taking shelter in that country."

The Home Minister on Friday lauded the role so far played by the Unified Command in Assam and encouraged the forces to carry on with the good work. He praised Assam Police for acting very fast in intelligence shared by the central government on December 31 last about terrorists' plan to trigger blasts in Guwahati.

"We had intelligence input about blasts. In fact, intelligence was building up over the last few days. On the evening of December 31, we shared it with Government of Assam. I must complement Assam Police for acting swiftly on it.

"There was a manhunt for the person involved. Assam Police him name and his family. They nearly succeeded in apprehending him. With little bit of luck he escaped by throwing the bomb in the garbage bin at Birubari. The Director General of Police told me that two of his associates planted two devices at Bhangagarh and Bhootnath. The police know two of three culprits and will soon capture them."

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K Anurag in Guwahati