Click to play videoNew Delhi: The 33rd National Games started in Guwahati on an ominous note on Friday when an Improvised Explosive Device exploded at the Kamakhya Railway Station in early hours of the morning.
The blast occurred between the old and new buildings of railway station, hours before the inauguration of the Games.
Many sportspersons had been earlier received at the station, City Additional Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh said.
However, police said there were no casualties, and movement of trains wasn't disrupted.
"More than 13,000 visitors from all over the country are coming to Assam and everyone is happy with our arrangement . This blast is just minor aberration," says Minister-in-Charge of 33rd National Games, Pradyut Bordoloi.
The station was being used over the past few days to pick up sportspersons who had arrived here to participate in the Games to avoid the rush at the Guwahati railway station, police said.
It’s also the station where many players will be received later in the day.
According to news agency PTI, a senior police official had received a phone call on Wednesday from a person claiming to be ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua who said two programmable time devices had been planted on the railway track near the Kamakhya railway station.
However, the unidentified caller also reportedly said ULFA should not be blamed for any blast as it had withdrawn the Games boycott call.
Police swung into immediate action and dug up the six-km stretch along the railway tracks from Kamakhya station to Bharalumukh station. However, for no bombs or explosives were found.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to inaugurate the National Games on Friday.
Unprecedented security systems have been put in place across Guwahati, despite the withdrawal of the boycott call by the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
The following set of arrangements have been put in place:
- 20 additional battalions of paramilitary forces to stay on guard during the games.
- Extra security for sportspersons right from the Bengal-Assam border.
- Special computerised security passes for sportspersons, officials and media.
- Players to be allowed to move only in groups under heavy security cover.
- Army to form an outer security ring all over Guwahati city.
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