GUWAHATI, Aug 19: Authorities of a posh mall in the heart of Assam’s Guwahati on Monday received a bomb threat from an unknown organisation, leading to evacuation of the shopping arena even as Assam Police has made it clear that any attempt to disrupt peace in the state will be thwarted.
The City Centre Mall, located close to the state secretariat, was evacuated around 4 pm, with the authorities initially attributing the reason for the sudden closure to “technical issues”.
A senior officer of Assam Police told PTI that an email was received by the mall authorities about the presence of a bomb on the premises.
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“The mail was sent to 75 locations across India. We learnt that there were a total of 75 recipients in the address bar. It threatened to blow up the mall with a bomb,” he said.
“We couldn’t take the threat lightly and cleared the mall of visitors. Search operations are underway with the help of bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs. So far, nothing has been found,” he said.
The incident took place four days after the banned ULFA(I) announced planting 24 bombs in different parts of the state, including multiple locations in Guwahati.
Ten “bomb-like substances” have been recovered, including four in Guwahati, in the last two days.
The threat mail received on Monday was sent by an unknown organisation named ‘KNR’, the officer said.
The authorities of City Centre Mall had earlier put up an unsigned notice on the gates that read: “For technical issues, mall will be shut down for 2 hours.”
The mall houses a number of shops, eateries, gaming zones and a multiplex.
Assam director general of police G P Singh on Monday asserted that any attempt to disrupt peace in the state will be thwarted by security forces.
His comments came against the backdrop of the banned ULFA(I)’s purported email on Independence Day, announcing planting 24 bombs in different areas, including multiple places in Guwahati.
Ten “bomb-like substances” have been recovered, including four in Guwahati, over the last two days.
“The state had been witnessing terrorist activities for the last 40 years. We have now reached a stage where such activities are almost nearing an end. We will take stringent measures against those who attempt to bring back the days of violence and terror,” Singh told reporters here on the sidelines of a programme.
The DGP said the force has been concentrating on strengthening its traditional policing duties so that criminal elements are dealt with.
“To sway our efforts, some may try to engage in terror activities. But, such attempts will not be successful,” he asserted.
Singh also dismissed allegations of an intelligence failure in connection with the recovery of “bomb-like substances” from various locations.
