Assam industries minister Pradyut Bordoloi in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Nov. 18: Dispur today said there were indications of the involvement of a “third force” operating from across the border in the October 30 serial blasts.

Assam industries minister Pradyut Bordoloi, speaking on behalf of the government, told mediapersons that the investigation into the blasts was “heading in the right direction and there was evidence of a third force based in Bangladesh, which played a role.”

“It would not be right to say anything more as of now since the investigation into the blasts is on. But we will come to a logical conclusion very soon. Our government is determined to find out the culprits involved in the dastardly act,” Bordoloi said.

The minister said there was little doubt that most of the militant activities in Assam and the northeastern region were controlled from across the border.

The arrest of Tenzing G. Zangpo, the Bhutanese national in connection with the blasts, has been taken up with the central government, who would thereafter take it up with the Bhutan government, he added.

The minister, however, ruled out the involvement of Maoist rebels in militant activities in the state.

“The Maoists have formed a government in Nepal and they have good relations with India. It is most unlikely they would help forces against India,” he said.

Bordoloi, however, said there could be small splinter groups that could have some links with the militants of the region.

Reacting to allegations of involvement of his ministerial colleagues in the blasts, the minister said that the charges were totally baseless and made by opposition parties to gain political mileage before the elections.

Bordoloi was reacting to BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar’s allegations yesterday in New Delhi that state ministers Bhumidhar Barman, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Bharat Narah and Pramila Rani Brahma had links with the militants.

The special investigation team headed by the inspector- general of police, R. Chandranathan, which is probing the blasts, has picked up several persons, mostly NDFB cadres, in connection with the blasts.

Although the inquiry as of now points fingers at the NDFB, there is a firm belief that an external force from across the border did play a role in the blasts.

The death toll in the serial blasts rose to 89 today with the death of Rinku Das, who was critically injured in a Barpeta Road explosion, at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.

Over 300 people were injured in the blasts that rocked Lower Assam on October 30.