Guwahati: The death toll in the March 16 bomb blast triggered by United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in Goalpara district of Assam rose to seven on March 17 with one of the injured succumbing to his wounds, official sources said.

The proscribed ULFA had in a major offensive killed six persons and injured 55 others, one of who died in a hospital on March 17.

The insurgents observing its "sainik divas" (army raising day), targetted a 36th battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) truck on NH-7 near Goalpara town and planted a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) there.

The bomb exploded when the CRPF vehicle and another crowded passenger bus were crossing each other near Bamunghopha, killing three persons on the spot and injuring 58 others.

Another three, including a CRPF jawan Somraj Wagle, succumbed to their injuries later while 10 seriously wounded were rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

A massive combing operation was launched by security forces to track the ultras who escaped to the dense forest of Pancharatna immediately after the incident, the sources said.

Earlier on March 8, the ULFA blasted an oil depot of the world's oldest oil refinery at Digboi, attacked a gas pipeline in nearby Duliajan and shot dead two persons in Goalpara district.

ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah had claimed responsibility for the incident and warned that they were planning similar attacks in the future.

PTI