Assam whodunnit: Many names, no clarity

Guwahati: More than 24 hours after blasts ripped through Assam, the state police have detained two people. They claim that their vehicles were used to plant some of the bombs that killed more than 70 and injured several others.

While investigators looked for clues to get a fix on who could be behind the blasts, local television channel received an SMS from a little known outfit by the name of ISF-IM, claiming responsibility for the blasts.

A local TV news channel claims to have received an SMS claiming the blasts were carried out by the Indian Mujahideen group's splinter faction, the ISF-IM.

Police investigators are now concentrating on the possibility of ULFA and the Bangladesh based HUJI working together since the HUJI is known to have the capability of carrying out the serial blasts.

“From the look of it, it looks like the handiwork of Jehadi groups but there are many organisations in Assam and we cannot put the blame on anyone right now,” says Intelligence Chief, Assam Police, Khagen Sharma.

According to police sources, HuJI-trained ULFA cadres - now being called the 'New ULFA' - planted the RDX explosives in cars and scooters.

Sources also reveal the RDX used was of a very sophisticated kind, which can pass through metal detectors without being traced.

The presence of ULFA was virtually wiped out from upper Assam until an anti-peace faction of ULFA led by Paresh Barua and fresh recruits, all trained by HUJI in Chittagong formed the group 'New ULFA' .

This group is divided into two regions: one in Chittagong and the other in NDFB's camps in Pangshu Pass in Bhutan.

NDFB had entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India in 2003. But intelligence officials say that by 2005 it had once again re-established its camps in the Pangshu Pass area.

The big picture emerging after the preliminary investigations and intelligence gathering is this -HUJI trained ULFA cadres with the help of the terror group's local support network carried out the six blasts in Guwahati.

The other six blasts in Western Assam were carried out by the New ULFA in collaboration with the NDFB.

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