City pays tribute to victims of 2008 serial bomb blasts

GUWAHATI, Oct 30 – Urging the people to stay united against terrorism and defeat all forces inimical to society’s progress, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today asserted that peace alone could lead to development and harmony.

Sonowal said this while addressing two public meetings as part of the Black Day observance in memory of the victims of the October 30, 2008 serial bomb blasts on the CJM Court campus at Kachari and under the Ganeshguri flyover, two places which bore the brunt of the blasts.
The serial blasts across Guwahati, Barpeta Road, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon claimed some one hundred lives besides injuring many more.

Claiming that the State’s law and order has improved considerably in recent years, Sonowal referred to the large public gatherings in the recent Independence Day celebrations, saying that the people spontaneously came out in large numbers to participate.

“The State’s overall situation has improved much. Investors have been showing interest to come to the State and set up bases. Assam has become a peaceful State and its impression of being a highly progressive State has strongly been put in place outside as well,” he added.

Extending his sympathies to the families of the victims, the Chief Minister said that the government is committed to looking after the needs of the families. He urged the people to stay alert against any act of terrorism and cooperate with the government to realise the goal of a terrorism-free Assam.

“Not conflict but harmony is the need of the hour and people from all sections of society must keep the age-old bond of unity intact,” he said.

The Kamrup (Metro) district administration also organised a special memorial function under the Ganeshguri flyover to mark the occasion.