2 killed, several injured in grenade attack in Assam; Police suspect ULFA-I militants

Guwahati: At least two people were killed and several others injured after suspected ULFA(I) militants carried out a grenade attack in Assam's Sivasagar district on Thursday evening, police said.

The grenade exploded at a hardware shop in the district's Demow area, killing one person, and injuring many others. Another person succumbed to injuries later, taking the death toll to two.

The deceased were yet to be identified, a police officer said.

Several others were injured in the explosion that was suspected to be the handiwork of United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) militants, the police officer said.

Senior police officials went to the spot immediately after the explosion.

The attack comes three weeks after the ULFA-I militants slaughtered five people in Assam's Sadiya, which falls under the jurisdiction of Tinsukia district.

Six youngsters, who were sitting at a shop in the area, were picked up by the gunmen – all in camouflage attire. They were then taken to the banks of Brahmaputra river where they were told to sit in line and shot at.

Sources have said that the victims are Bengalis and the ULFA-I action is retaliation to the rift between Bengalis and the Assamese people following the central government implementing NRC in the state.