Protests shut down state over bomb blasts

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

A DAY-LONG general strike called by a students' group shut schools, shops and businesses across a northeastern Indian state yesterday to protest authorities' failure to stop bomb blasts that killed at least 81 people, officials said.

Police have arrested five people for questioning and are still trying to determine who was responsible for Thursday's coordinated bombings in Assam state, said Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, the area's inspector-general of police.

"We are not able to say anything because the investigation is in progress. We've got some leads, but we can't disclose them," Mahanta said.

The 11-hour strike called by the All Assam Students' Union paralyzed normal life in the state. "We have called the shutdown to protest the state government's total failure in protecting the lives of citizens. We also condemn all forms of violence in the state," said Samujjal Bhattacharjee, an adviser to the students' union.

Police have said the state's largest separatist group, the United Liberation Front of Asom, may have been involved in the attacks and is the main focus of the investigation, but a ULFA spokesman has denied any role. The group has been fighting for the state's independence.

Mahanta said the complexity of the bombings suggested local rebels were "assisted by a force who has adequate expertise in such attacks."