Guwahati: At least 12 people, including two SSB personnel, were injured in a grenade blast, reportedly carried out by ULFA(I) militants, in front of a shopping mall in the heart of the city on Wednesday evening, officials said. Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar told PTI that two persons riding a motorcycle hurled the grenade in front of the shopping mall located at arterial R G Baruah Road just opposite the state zoo around 8 pm.

"As per our information, 12 persons were injured in the explosion. Out of them, five are (undergoing treatment) at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. The condition of one of them is serious. Five others with minor injuries were admitted to a private hospital. The state will bear expenses of their treatment," Minister of State for Health Pijush Hazarika said. Hazarika visited the hospital and enquired about the treatment of the injured. Two others suffered eye injuries and they were taken to an eye hospital, Kamrup Metropolitan Disaster Management Authority CEO Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati said. Several of the victims were yet to be identified. The site of the explosion is at the heart of the city and next to the Shraddhanjali Kanan park, where a large number of people usually gather in the evening. "The injured include two SSB jawans. There is also one college-going woman among the injured," Bhagawati said. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawans were on patrolling duty with Assam Police personnel in the area.