Guwahati: At least 17 school children were killed and 40 others injured in a bomb explosion at an official Independence Day function at Assam's Dhemaji town today (Aug 15, 2004), where violence erupted as a backlash to the bomb blast forcing the police to fire in the air.

The powerful blast took place at around 09:00 hrs IST at the entrance of the Dhemaji College when the official I-Day celebration was about to begin killing 16 children on the spot.

One child succumbed to injury at Dhemaji Civil Hospital, official sources said.

Agitated public started pelting stones on police vehicles after the blast and gheraoed them forcing them to lathicharge and teargas. As lathicharge and teargas failed police fired in the air.

The injured have been admitted to Dhemaji Civil Hospital, the sources said. Condemning the incident as "most inhuman" Assam Chief Minister announced the suspension of the Dhemaji Superintendent of Police T Thangou for "serious dereliction of duty as the incident happened when militants had already called for boycott and general strike today".

The Minister of State for Home Ruckbul Hussain and DGP P V Sumant have rushed to Dhemaji to take stock of the situation. Gogoi will visit the area tomorrow.

Two more bomb explosions were reported from the State today but there was no report of any casualty.

The ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) exploded a bomb in the VIP gallery at an Independence Day function in Dhubri. Militants also exploded a bomb in Dhokuakana area in Dhemaji district.