One Killed, Three Injured in Assam Blast, Hours After Election Results Announced

A powerful explosion in Assam’s BTAD area on Saturday morning claimed the life of one civilian, a scrap dealer. Three other civilians were injured, according to local police.

The explosion in the Borjhar area near Orang in BTAD area in the early hours of the morning, came shortly after the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election result was declared the night before.

Police suspected that militants intended to trigger the explosion during the election. Instead, the bomb exploded when Ram Chandra Barman, a scrap dealer, hit the metal object with a hammer, not realising it was a bomb.

The three injured persons, Gopal Das, Sitarani Das and Pawan Dey were taken to the nearby hospital for treatment.

Top police and army officials rushed to the area, where they launched an operation against the militants.

The BPF political party, led by Hagrama Mahilary captured 20 seats of the 40 seats on the BTC Council.

PCDR captured six council seats, AIUDF and Sanmilita Janagoshthiya Eikyamancha captured four seats each, three by ABSS, one by BJP and two by Independent candidates.

This was the third BTC election.

Hemanta Kumar Nath

Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.