Arrests over Assam bombings

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-5  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

POLICE arrested three suspected separatist rebels yesterday and released a sketch of a suspect in connection with bombings in India's northeastern state of Assam that killed 84 people and wounded about 300.

Police say those arrested were members of the United Liberation Front of Assam, blamed for colluding with Islamist militants in last week's attack, the worst in a region where dozens of insurgencies have raged for decades.

"The sketch of a suspect involved in planting a car bomb was based on inputs from an eyewitness," said Jayashree Khersa, a senior police officer in Guwahati, Assam's main city where 44 people were killed in three bomb blasts. The rest of the victims were killed in three other towns in the tea and oil producing state.

Police are questioning 12 people, mostly Bangladeshi Muslims.

A little-known Islamist militant group the Islamic Security Force - Indian Mujahideen sent a mobile telephone text message to a local television station claiming responsibility for the blasts.

Police suspect the bombings were carried out to avenge attacks on Muslim settlers, mostly from neighboring Bangladesh, by indigenous tribes. The attacks killed at least 47 people in September and October.

The Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, India's main opposition, has also criticized the government for not doing enough to stop Bangladeshi nationals from crossing over to India.

India's home ministry says up to 20 million Bangladeshis live in India illegally, and police suspect some illegal migrants could have been involved in the attack.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam state's official spokesman, said ULFA and Islamist militants aid each other.