Tuesday, August 9 2005 16:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: The stepped up violence by ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) in Assam ahead of Independence Day continued with the ultras blowing up a gas pipeline, a steel bridge and a transformer, police said in Guwahati today (Aug 9, 2005).

Militants blew up a gas pipeline of Oil India Limited at Disaibotha area under Kakotibari police station in Sibsagar late last night leading to extensive loss of gas and affecting supply to several tea gardens in the area.

The banned outfit also exploded a bomb on a steel bridge on Namsai-Bordumsa road along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border last night but no major damage or casualty was reported, the sources said.

In another incident, militants blew up a transformer in a Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) powerhouse at Narengi under Noonmati police station here last night affecting power supply in the area.

Repair and restoration work is on and power supply is expected to be restored soon, the sources said.

A major disaster was averted in Jorhat town yesterday when the police defused a time bomb found in front of two adjacent schools about five minutes before it was about to explode, the sources said.

Meanwhile, a huge bag found abandoned at the Assam Engineering College ground at Chandmari created a stir in the area today. On investigation, the police found an old TV set and some old clothes inside it.