Prime minister condemns Assam blasts

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned Monday's serial blasts in Assam and said that his government was committed to thwarting the designs of the terrorists.
Manmohan Singh expressed profound grief and shock over the incidents and conveyed his condolences to the near and dear ones of those killed in the blasts.
'The government remains committed in its resolve to thwart the designs of terrorists and adequate measures will be undertaken to ensure peace and stability in the state,' he was quoted in a press release here.

Assam blasts compel government to review security

India's security establishment was Monday reviewing security measures ahead of the general elections that begin next week following three blasts in quick succession in Assam, including in the state's main city Guwahati, in which seven people were killed.
The powerful blasts in Guwahati, Dhekiajuli and in Karbi Anglong came at a time when the home ministry had warned of specific terror threats to important installations and targeting of politicians in the run up to and during general elections.
Six people were killed and 30 injured in Assam's main city of Guwahati around 1.45 p.m. Monday. Less than two hours later, another explosion took place 150 km away in Dhekiajuli town. A third explosion took place in eastern Karbi Anglong district, in which two people were injured.
The blasts shook Assam a day ahead of the United Liberation Front of Asom's (ULFA) 30th foundation day and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the state to address a campaign rally in Dibrugarh.
'We knew the ULFA was planning some attacks to marks its foundation day. We acted on some intelligence inputs but this has caught us unawares,' admitted a senior intelligence functionary.
'We are evaluating the mechanisms in place and instructing security forces and the army, especially those positioned along the border, to be doubly alert. In some parts of the northeast, we are strengthening troops.'
Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta has asked the state's chief secretary P.C. Sharma to strengthen security in Guwahati and other parts of the state.
Just last week a similar motorbike blast, though of lesser intensity, took place a liitle distance away from where External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was to address an election rally in Guwahati.
Though Home Minister P. Chidambaram has assured political parties there is no need for any panic or alarm and said the government was taking all measures to ensure peaceful polls, Monday's attack forced the security establishment to re-evaluate measures.
Chidambaram had last week cautioned 40 VVIPs, including leaders of political parties and chief ministers, to take all precautions while campaigning and specifically detailed a list of dos and don'ts while venturing out during electioneering.
Leaders on the radar of various terror groups include the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, union ministers Pranab Mukherjee and A.K. Antony and the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal.
The advisory to some of those on the hit list instructs them to keep police in the loop about their campaign routes, not to accept garlands while campaigning, not to mingle closely with surging crowds and keep security agencies aware of a change of election roadshows.
Assam has long been on the terror radar.
Terror struck on the first day of 2009 when three serial blasts in as many hours triggered by suspected ULFA militants left six people dead and more than 60 injured.
Ironically, the explosions took place a few hours before Chidambaram flew in for his maiden visit as home minister to review the law and order situation. Terrorists appeared to mock the heavy security bandobast put in place for the New Year in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage.
In October last year, serial bombings rocked the state in which over 80 people were killed.

Fourth bomb blast rocks Assam

The State of Assam was on Monday rocked by four blasts in which eight people killed and over 61 injured.
At least three people have been injured with no reports of any casualties in the fourth bomb blast, which has occurred just 14 minutes after third blast was reported in Dhubri district near the Indo-Bangla border.
According to police, the bomb blast has occurred in the State's Udalguri area, about 70 kilometres north of Guwahati, at 7.30 p.m.
At 7:16, a bomb blast left at least one person dead and four others injured in Assam's Dhubri district near the Indo-Bangla border.
Earlier in the day, two incidents of bomb blasts were reported in different places of the State-Maligaon area in Guwahati city and Dhekiajuli, an industrial city of Sonitpur District.
Seven people had been killed and over 61 others left wounded in the twin bomb blasts during the daytime.
The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is suspected of behind the blasts.
The three blasts hold significance as they have come just ahead of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's scheduled visit to Assam on Tuesday.
These blasts have also been carried out a day ahead of the ULFA's 30th 'Flag Raising Day'.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta has spoken to Assam Chief Secretary P. C. Sharma and asked him to strengthen security arrangements in Guwahati and other places.
According to PMO sources, Manmohan Singh's visit to the State remains unchanged.

Eleven percent Americans still think Obama is a Muslim

Washington: One in 10 Americans still believe US President Barack Obama is a Muslim, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Centre found.The number is only slightly lower than the results of a poll conducted by Pew last October.
Nineteen percent of white evangelical Protestants and 17 percent Republicans are among the most likely to view Obama as a Muslim, according to the poll. While just seven percent of the Democrats say Obama is a Muslim, Pew said on its website Friday.
In spite of Obama being on record about his Christian faith and his well known association with a Chicago United Church, opponents raised questions about Obama's religion during the contentious 2008 US Presidential campaign, the Nationalpost.com said.
Conservapedia, which bills itself as the conservative alternative to Wikipedia, has a subsection called 'Obama is likely the first Muslim President' in its entry on Obama. The section lists what it sees as evidence of Obama's Muslim faith. The debate over Obama's religion also took to the Internet where Obama's campaign started its own website to address the religion issue and other 'smears'.