In Assam, suspected militants triggered a blast at a goods train and attacked a passenger bus wounding three persons in separate incidents yesterday. Both the incidents are believed to be part of a renewed offensive by separatist militants to make their presence felt in the run up to the Republic Day celebrations.

A Railway spokesman said militants triggered a remote controlled explosion at a rail bridge near Maigrendisa in North Cachar Hill district following which the engine of a goods train got derailed.

The train, carrying food grains, was on its way to Bararpur from the Lumding station when the explosion took place. The identity of the rebel group involved in the blast is yet to be ascertained. There was, however, no casualty or other damage caused to the train.

The running of all night passenger trains in the hill district has been suspended till 30th of this month on security reasons. In another incident, a little known militant group called Karbi Liberation People’s Tiger (KLPT) attacked a passenger bus this morning near Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district injuring three people, including a child.

The bus was on its way to Manipur capital Imphal from Guwahati.