Army ammo used in Assam blast

The CBI, which is probing the 2008 Assam serial blasts, has found that the explosives — suspected to be RDX — were allegedly procured illegally from an Army firing range in the state.

The CBI, which is probing the 2008 Assam serial blasts, has found that the explosives — suspected to be RDX — were allegedly procured illegally from an Army firing range in the state.

HT Image

The nine blasts across Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Bongaigaon districts had killed 88 people. The strike was reportedly orchestrated by terror outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and its chief Ranjan Daimary (currently in custody).

According to the CBI’s progress report, accessed by HT, the explosives were allegedly procured by NDFB operative Gajen Shah from the army’s firing range in Baksa district.

“From the interrogations of over 10 accused…it was found that the explosives…were arranged from the Army firing range in Baksa by NDFB’s Gajen Shah,” said a CBI source. “Gajen Shah...is believed to be in hiding. He is a resident of Baksa.”

The CBI, the source said, is now probing how Shah managed to procure the explosives from a highly-protected and sensitive zone like the army firing range.

The agency is also likely to request the Interpol to issue Red Corner Notices against four other key absconding accused in the case who are suspected to be in hiding in Bangladesh.