Friday, June 9 2006 19:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: Four persons were killed and 16 seriously injured when a bomb planted by the ULFA exploded in the main vegetable market here this evening, a senior police said.

The bomb went off at 4.20 pm when the market at Machkowa was crowded, killing four vegetable vendors instantly and wounding others, Senior Superintendent of Police Nitul Gogoi told sources.

"The bomb was suspected to have been hidden in a vegetable basket as no crater was formed and it went off with a deafening blast," Gogoi said.

The injured were admitted to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

The area was cordoned off and all nearby shops and markets closed as panic spread.

Last night, the ULFA, mainly targeting the police, carried out simultaneous attacks in four places injuring 32 people.

Twenty-two people were injured in a grenade attack at Mangaldoi town in Darrang district, while an IED exploded near Purani police station of Golakganj area in Dhubri district, injuring four people including a constable.



In the same district, a grenade was hurled inside a shop injuring one person, while in Nagaon district five people including a policeman were injured when the militants targeted the Haibargaon police station.

"The police launched a massive combing operation following last night's attacks and cracked down on suspected ULFA hideouts. Special security pickets were posted in and around vital installations and railway tracks," officials said.

The police reviewed the security arrangements across the state and decided to step up vigil to prevent further violence.

The attacks came less than two weeks before the third round of talks on June 22 between the Centre and the People's Consultative Group nominated by ULFA.