Police nabs two juveniles for planting bombs in Assam

Guwahati, Aug 17 (IANS) Assam police nabbed two schoolchildren from eastern Assam's Tinsukia district on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in planting the four bombs that went off on the morning of Independence Day in Tinsukia and Charaideo districts, the police said on Wednesday.

Tinsukia Superintendent of Police (SP), Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said, "The two schoolchildren, one a student of Class IX and the other of Class X, of the Kakoraj Higher Secondary School were assigned by four cadres of the anti-talk faction of ULFA."

"The four cadres of ULFA, armed with AK series rifles, promised them money if they could plant the bombs in selected areas. The cadres told them that the bombs were programmed and they would explode only on August 15," the SP said while adding that the militants, however, did not pay them.

"Accordingly, the two schoolchildren left their home on August 11 and planted the bombs in different areas of Tinsukia and Charaideo districts. We have arrested them on specific information and they have admitted their involvement in the crime," said the SP.

"As there are not many cadres left with the outfit now they often use civilians to carry out their jobs like planting bombs and explosives," the SP said adding that it makes the job easier for the ULFA cadres.

The ULFA faction had on August 12 sprayed bullets on innocent civilians in Philobari area of Tinsukia district killing 2 persons and injuring seven.

The outfit and several other anti-talk faction militant outfits had called for a shutdown and boycott of Independence Day.