April 3: Suspected Ulfa militants triggered a blast inside a cinema hall at Simaluguri in Sivasagar district this evening, leaving 20 people injured.

The blast sends a clear signal that the underground outfit would try to enforce a ban, imposed by nine militant organisations of the Northeast on November 15 last year, on screening of Hindi movies in the region.

Jeuti Cinema, the only movie theatre in Simaluguri, was screening Hindi movie Jawani ka Josh for the evening show when the blast was detonated. The explosion is the first attack on any cinema in Assam since the ban came into effect last year.

On August 7, the outfits had clamped the ban on screening of Hindi movies and production of local films and video albums imitating Hindi films in the entire Northeast. This was aimed at “fighting the invasion of hybrid Indian culture through Hindi films, which has dangerously undermined the strength of our socio-cultural roots”. The Ulfa and the NDFB had later said, “Knowing that this ban would affect the business and livelihood of some of our people, we have given enough time to opt for other means for their survival.” The outfits had said, “All possible measures will be taken up to put the ban into effect”.

Three of the injured were stated to be critical. Preliminary investigation suggested that the bomb was placed under a seat in the first row of the hall. The main door and asbestos ceiling of the hall were also damaged in the impact of the blast, which took place around 6.45 pm. The three critically injured included a schoolteacher.

An officer at the Simaluguri police station said the blast was not very powerful or “else there would have been a disaster”. The officer said it was not clear as to what kind of device was used to trigger off the blast.

“A timer device may have been used. But it is too early to comprehend,” he said. Senior police officials including deputy inspector general of police K.P. Singh Deo have rushed to Simaluguri to take stock of the situation. Inspector general of police (special branch) Khagen Sharma said in Guwahati the entire security would have to be reviewed in the wake of the blast, keeping in mind the outfit’s raising day on April 7.

There has been a spurt in militant activities in Sivasagar district recently with the Ulfa carrying out blasts on railway tracks and Oil India Ltd and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation pipelines at regular intervals. Yesterday, militants exchanged fire with security forces at Namti in the district.

The blast could not have come at a more inopportune time for cinema owners, who are facing heavy losses as very few viewers come to watch movies in halls.

Availability of video CDs in the market much before new films are screened in the halls also harms their business prospects.

There was a widespread protest, especially among the film fraternity of the state, following the ban. Some movie halls and cable TV operators in the state followed the Ulfa diktat only for a few weeks.