Tinsukia: Two people were reportedly killed while two others were injured in a grenade blast outside a hardware shop at Tingrai Bazar, on the outskirts of OIL township Digboi, in Assam‘s Tinsukia district on Friday afternoon.
The deceased persons have been identified as Sanjit Singh Panikhowa (25), a resident of Tingrai Hukanpukhuri, and Surajit Talukdar, a resident of Tingrai Bazar.
Confirming the blast, Tinsukia SP Nimbalkar Vaibhav Chandrakant said, “According to preliminary investigation, unidentified miscreants lobbed a grenade in front of a hardware shop owned by Puranmal Agarwalla. One person died and three others were injured in the incident.”
Later, one of the injured persons succumbed to his injuries at AMCH.
“We have received some clues which can’t be revealed at this moment. Police investigation is underway,” Nimbalkar said, adding: “We are confident that we will nab the culprits soon.”
According to sources, a huge sound of a blast was heard in Tingrai Bazar creating waves of panic. “Moments later, people could sense that a blast took place on the verandah of the shop owned by Puranmal Agarwal, leaving a small crater,” the sources added.
“The injured a were rushed to Digboi CHC in a mini truck with the help of local people,” said sources.
The two injured have been identified as Monjit Das, a resident of Tingrai Bazar, and Ghanshyam Agarwal, a resident of Bogapani.
Soon after the incident, senior police officers and army personnel from Digboi rushed to the spot and questioned people for possible leads besides checking CCTV footage at a nearby house, said sources. “There is no clarity on the type of blast and whether it is an act of terrorism yet,” the sources added.
“The role of ULFA-I is being suspected behind the blast with a motive of extortion,” another source added.
According to latest reports, the victms have been referred to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh.
Immediately after the incident, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted: “Hon HM Sri @AmitShah called me to enquire about grenade blast at Tingrai Market in Tinsukia District. He condoled death of two civilians. I apprised HM on the matter and informed that @assampolice has been asked to take stern measures against perpetrators & nab them immediately.”
Meanwhile, ULFA-I has issued a press release signed by Captain Romel Asom stating that they had no role in the blast at Tingrai Bazar.
On Tuesday, a 12-year-old boy lost his life after he picked up an abandoned grenade, at the banks of Burhidehing river between Jagun and Bordumsa, that went off. Assam police tweeted saying the grenade was have been mistakenly dropped by security forces during routine movement in the area.
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