Security agencies have blamed the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for the blasts.
“The security forces, and especially the Assam police, were on high alert and tried their best to secure the most vulnerable locations. It is unfortunate and deeply regretted that the adversary has been able to strike this time”, the home ministry said in a statement.
“The government condemns these acts of violence, even while it regrets that it was not possible for the security forces to pre-empt and prevent these incidents,” it added.
Detailing the steps taken by his ministry on specific alerts, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said many advisories were sent to the security forces as well as to the Assam government to remain extremely vigilant during this period.
“The period between March 16 (ULFA’s so-called Army Day) and April 7 (its so-called Raising Day) has always been a vulnerable period in Assam for many years,” Chidambaram said, while releasing a booklet on “The Congress party’s pledge - Protecting India From Terror”.
Since January, the security forces have been able to arrest 42 ULFA cadres and neutralise 15.
“For example, notorious ULFA cadres such as Tapan Roy, Paranjal Deka, Anupam Gogoi, Bhaskar Hazarika and Kushal Das, were neutralised by the Assam police in the last three months. In the process, the security forces have lost four lives,” said the home minister.
“It is natural to put the blame on security and police but we had made arrangements for thwarting such attacks and it is unfortunate this has happened,” he added.
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.
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 in the state.
Before that, in October last year, serial bombings rocked the state, killing over 80 people.