On Thursday afternoon, Assam's major city Guwahati was rocked by three bomb blasts in which five people were dead and almost 51 others injured just hours before Union Home Minister P Chidambaram reached in the city.

Total of three bomb blasts were of low intensity and are thought to have been carried out by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) using improvised explosive device (IED).

Around 1430 hrs IST in the afternoon, the first bomb went off in a by-lane in the Birubari area, the second IED blast happened in a small market at Bhoothnath. Finally the third blast took place near the Bhangagarh flyover at around 1800 hrs IST.

According to the Police, a biker positioned the first bomb at Birubari inside a dustbin and escaped. The bomb was kept on a cycle at Bhootnath, whereas Bhangagarh was kept on the roadside.

The bomb in the Bhootnath area was kept on the route which Chidambaram was to take on his way from the airport.

In the explosion at Bhangagarh three people were dead and 35 were injured, including four women. Furthermore, two persons died on way to hospital while another gave away to the injuries at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH).

Two of the dead have been recognized as Amal Das and Kahil Sheikh.

Several injured who were admitted at the GMCH and  Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH), were in critical condition.

Assam's Director General of Police GM Srivastava further announced initial investigations showed that the blasts were carried out by ULFA.

Srivastava said, a small bomb was placed in a dustbin in the afternoon, which went off but nothing major happened. The second one blast was the most powerful took place in the crowded market place in Bhootnath, and 20 people were injured. In the third blast kerosene kept nearby caught fire. We have inputs to suggest that it is the ULFA.”

Tarun Gogoi, Assam Chief Minister admitted there have been safety lapses and further added that the police force in the state needs to be strengthened.

Gogoi told, “There have been security lapses. We had prior information. Bangladesh is providing shelter to all terror groups including ULFA. Bangladesh is a safe heaven for terrorists. The Home Minister and External Affairs Minister have assured us that India will take up the issue with Bangladesh and they would put diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh.”

Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister also condemned the blasts in Assam.

Manmohan said, “The government will stay steadfast in its determination to root out terrorism and that the measures initiated recently in this direction will be taken to their logical conclusion.”

Manmohan is also planned to arrive in Assam on Friday to inaugurate the 96th Indian Science Congress in Meghalaya's capital Shillong, which is aroumd 95 km from Guwahati.

P Saloiwho is the Guwahati Senior Superintendent of Police hinted that the terrorists might have planned to blast the bombs keeping in view the visits of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.

In October 30, 2008 more than 90 people had been killed in serial bomb blasts across the state.

Late on Thursday night an emergency security meeting was also convened at Raj Bhavan which was attended by Gogoi, Chidambaram and senior security officials.