Diphu: At least two persons were today killed and 30 others injured when suspected KLNLF militants triggered a blast in a passenger train at Diphu in central Assam's Karbi Anglong district, a month after deadly serial explosions rocked the state leaving nearly 80 dead.

The Karbi Liongri National Liberation Front, enforcing an "indefinite economic blockade" on national highways and rail tracks in the state, allegedly planted the bomb in a general compartment of Tinsukia-Lumding passenger train which exploded around 8 am, police said. Two passengers, including a child, were killed and 30 others injured, they said, adding that the injured have been rushed to hospitals.

District Superintendent of Police A K Sarma told PTI that the police had beefed up security in the district in the wake of prior information about the militants plan to explode bombs in Diphu town, headquarters of Karbi Anglong district, besides Bokajan and Howraghat towns. Due to intensified vigil, the militants failed to plant explosive devices in Diphu town and, instead detonated a bomb with a timer device inside the train as it was approaching Diphu railway station, he said.

The KLNLF has called the economic blockade of railway tracks and National Highways 37 and 39 in the district demanding responses from political parties to their 10-point demands, which include among others, exclusion of Karbi Anglong land from Dimaraji as demanded by another militant outfit, Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), in neighbouring N C Hills. Sarma said police has also recovered two bombs also suspected to have been planted by KLNLF militants at the Dokmoka area of the town.

Source : PTI