Assam sets up own RAW to probe, study terror designs

The state RAW would also look at activities and movements of various terrorist and militant groups in Bangladesh and Myanmar, he added. The SIT’s probe is moving in the right direction, sources told The Indian Express here on Monday.

The state Government, meanwhile, barred the SIT as well as the Assam Police from talking to the media.

The SIT, according to the sources, has already detained at least half a dozen suspects, which include the owner of the Reliance mobile phone from which an SMS was sent on Saturday in the name of ISF(IM) claiming responsibility for the blasts.

Those arrested include mobile phone owner Nazir Ahmed from Moirabari in Morigaon district, and Mujammil Haque and Anwarul Haque, both from Lakhimpur district in eastern Assam.

Assam Government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sharma on Monday said the sketches of some suspects were being prepared on the basis of descriptions provided by several eyewitnesses and that they would be released in a day or two.

The state Government, which had initially put the blame on ULFA, has gradually begun talking about the terror trigger being located somewhere in Bangladesh.

It was only on Sunday that Gogoi had said the needle of suspicion was pointing towards forces having bases or links in Bangladesh.

“Whether it is ULFA or HuJI, they all have their bases in Bangladesh, and the agencies are probing this angle,” spokesman Sharma said. Normal life across the state continued to remain affected for the fifth consecutive day on Monday with an 11-hour bandh bringing everything to a grinding halt. This is the second bandh since Thursday’s serial blasts, the earlier one being called on Saturday by the BJP, VHP and their allies.

Meanwhile, the toll in the blasts has risen to 84 with three more succumbing to their injuries, official sources said.

Two persons died at the Guwahati Neurological Research Centre on Monday while another died at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital on Sunday.