Guwahati: 6 injured in grenade blast outside mall

At least six persons, including two security force personnel, were injured in a blast outside a shopping mall in Guwahati on Wednesday evening.

Guwahati: Security personnel inspect the site of a suspected grenade blast that took place near the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. PTI Photo

GUWAHATI: At least six persons were injured in a grenade blast in front of a shopping mall and near a park in the heart of the city on Wednesday evening, police said. Two men came on a motorcycle and threw a grenade in front of the shopping mall at arterial R G Baruah Road just opposite the zoo at around 8 pm, Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar told PTI. "As per the preliminary report, six persons were injured. I am on my way to the spot now," he said. All the injured have been taken to hospital, police said. Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia and other senior officials too have rushed to the spot. The location is next to the Shraddhanjali Kanan park, where a large number of people usually gather in the evening. Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar said the suspects must have targeted the security forces. The blast took place on a day when Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called upon the police to devise a strategy to keep tabs on criminal elements and provide security to the city residents.