Ulfa-led blast in Assam's Sivsagar kills 1; injures another

One person was killed and another injured after suspected militants belonging to the anti-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom's (Ulfa) triggered a blast in Assam's Sivsagar district on Thursday evening, police said.

Police said the blast took place at a hardware store belonging to one Kamal Agarwala. "While Agarwala was seriously injured in the blast, a customer who was present in the store, died on the spot."

The police is investigating the matter and will detail "the exact nature of the blast after preliminary investigation", said Sivsagar Superintendent of Police, Subodh Kumar Sonowal.

Locals said that Agarwala and his brother had earlier received an extortion demand from the anti-talk faction of Ulfa militants.

The anti-talk Ulfa faction had on November 1 shot at a group of Hindu Bengalis in Tinsukia district in which five persons were killed.