Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010357780100.htm

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We had intelligence but were unlucky: Chidambaram

Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said the Centre had prior intelligence on Thursday’s serial blasts here and it was shared with the Assam government on the evening of December 31, resulting in the police nearly succeeding in catching one of the three perpetrators of the blasts.

Mr. Chidambaram said he spoke to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday morning about the intelligence input.

The serial blasts on New Year’s Day claimed five lives and left 62 injured.

“The police knew who the person is. They knew him by face and his family, and nearly succeeded in apprehending him. This time, with a little bit of luck, he evaded the police. This time, the police were unlucky. Next time they will be lucky,” Mr. Chidamabaram told reporters after a two-hour-long meeting of the Unified Command.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Gogoi and top Army, police, paramilitary forces and intelligence officers.

Soon after Mr. Chidamabaram’s briefing, the police released a photograph of Pranjal Deka alias Biju Sarania, a cadre of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), who they suspect to be behind the blast at Birubari.

Mr Chidambaram said that while escaping, Deka dumped a bomb in a trash bin and two of his associates planted explosive devices at Bhootnath and Bhagagarh.

“Two of the three perpetrators are known to the police. I have full faith on the ability of the police to apprehend them,” he added.

Broad guidelines have been issued to the Unified Command that it should have a more sharply focused strategy.

“No quarter will be given to militancy. Any banned organisation will be dealt with firmly and decisively,” said the Minister.

These organisations must get the clear message that the security forces would deal decisively with them, he said.

Earlier, inaugurating the 11,111th branch of State Bank of India at Sonapur in Kamrup district, the Home Minister said that whatever the obstacles and threats to the Assam people, the United Progressive Alliance government was determined to bring development to the State: “However formidable the obstacles may be, we are determined to overcome them.”