Guwahati, Nov 1 : The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has today called for a 12-hour shutdown in Assam that was rocked by serial blasts on October 30, leaving over 70 people dead.

The VHP, which is protesting against the failure of the government to protect the people from the blasts in the state, is joined by the Bajrang Dal and Assam Chamber of Commerce.

Shops and businesses establishments remained closed and vehicles remained off the roads.

"Almost all the places here have responded to the shutdown call. This is to show that all of us are against these blasts," said Abhijit Deka, a resident of Assam.

Security personnel have been deployed across the state as a precautionary measure. All essential services have been exempted from the purview of the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the All Assam Students'' Union (AASU) has called for a 24-hour shutdown on Monday.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi are scheduled to reach Guwahati to review the situation.

Twelve high intensity serial blasts rocked Guwahati and some other cities of Assam on Thursday morning.

The first explosions took place near the Ganeshguri flyover near the high-security capital complex housing the Assembly building, followed by explosions at Paltan Bazar and Fancy Bazar in Guwahati.

Around the same time, bombs also went off in crowded market places of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta in lower Assam.

Meanwhile, Indian Mujahideen, a frontal organisation of HUJI and Lashkar - e Toiba - have claimed responsibility for Assam serial blasts. It made the claim in an SMS sent to a local TV channel. (ANI)