School blasts triggered systematically; probe underway: Assam Police

GUWAHATI:

Amid escalating tension along the inter-state border with Mizoram, Assam Police special DGP (border), Mukesh Agrawal informed that an inquiry was underway in connection with the Friday night’s explosions in a lower primary school at Upper Painom near the inter-state boundary in Cachar district of Assam.

A primary school building near the Assam-Mizoram boundary in the Cachar district was destroyed in an explosion carried out by unknown miscreants.

“The three explosions were triggered by miscreants in a systematic and planned manner and the blasts have caused extensive damage to the school,” Agrawal said after assessing the condition of the school along with district officials.

Countering claims by the Mizoram government that the school was within its jurisdiction, Agarwal clarified that the Assam government established the school in the year 2003 with around 30-40 students, and it was in Assam’s territory.

The top police official disclosed that the Assam government has requested the central government for instituting a probe by a central agency into the earlier bomb blast that took place at Dholakhal LP School under Khulicherra Part II.

“Seema Suraksha Bal personnel have been deployed on the Assam side of the border and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on the Mizoram side and their roles have been clearly defined by the Union home ministry,” Agrawal said exuding optimism that the deployment of central forces would help in restoring normalcy along the border.

He further said that both the state and central governments were engaged in talks at the highest level to resolve the border row amicably.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal apprised Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation along the border and requested the central government to take necessary steps to maintain peace and harmony.

The special DGP (border) also appealed to the people not to be provoked by the recent incidents, as matters have been taken up at the proper level for resolving the border imbroglio.

Cachar Deputy Commissioner, Keerthi Jalli, said that an inquiry was in progress to trace those behind the blast and they have filed an FIR in connection with the incident.

Jalli, however, said that there was no casualty as the school was closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The school falls under the Narsingpur education block of Cachar district and receives mid-day meals under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan,” she said.

(Edited by Laxmi Chyrmang)