VZCZCXRO5000
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0533 3251222
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211222Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1282
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1149
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0452
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0454
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0283
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0283
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0219
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0110
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDHP/DIA DHP-1 WASHINGTON DC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1575

UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000533 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INS AND INR 
NEW DELHI FOR RSO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PTER IN
SUBJECT: BOMBS ON TRAIN IN W. BENGAL KILL AT LEAST SIX 
 
REF: CALCUTTA 0509 
 
¶1.   (U) Summary:  On November 20, an explosion on the 
Haldibari-New Jalpaiguri passenger train in northern West Bengal 
killed at least 6 and injured more than 50 people.  Unofficial 
estimates indicate the death toll may rise to 15.  No Americans 
have been reported injured.  Although no one has claimed 
responsibility for the incident, suspicions revolve around the 
Kamtaupur Liberation Organization (KLO) and its "patron" the 
United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).  End Summary. 
 
¶2.   (SBU) On November 20 two bombs exploded aboard a passenger 
train waiting to leave Belakoba station, a town in north Bengal. 
 The train had been delayed by 20 minutes; otherwise the 
explosions would have occurred 18km away at New Jalpaiguri 
station, which is far more crowded than Belakoba.  Initial media 
reports indicate that four other bombs on the train were located 
and defused.  The West Bengal Police Inspector General (Law and 
Order) Raj Kanojia (please protect) told post that a high level 
team is investigating the blast, and that the "usual suspects" 
are being considered.  A senior security official from Assam 
said he has no doubt that ULFA and the KLO are involved. 
 
¶3.   (U) Part of the Jalpaiguri district in northern West Bengal 
is a narrow, 21 kilometer corridor that connects Northeast India 
to the rest of the country.  This area is reputed to be used by 
militants operating in the region as a transit point between 
India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.  The KLO is a prominent insurgent 
group in northern West Bengal which demands a separate state for 
the Koch-Rajbongshi ethnic community.  Koch-Rajbongshis also 
live in the Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Goalpara districts 
of lower Assam. 
 
¶4.  (U) The KLO has close links with ULFA.  Intelligence sources 
believe that the KLO was supported by ULFA in 1995 to facilitate 
use of northern West Bengal as a transit point for insurgents 
crossing from Bhutan to Bangladesh.  The KLO has maintained some 
hideouts for ULFA in northern West Bengal.  By itself, the KLO 
is not a strong group (having only 100 cadres), but support from 
ULFA for training and equipment has enabled the KLO to carry out 
abductions, extortion and killing of local political leaders in 
northern West Bengal.  KLO leader Jiban Singha reportedly lives 
in Bangladesh, as does ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua. 
 
¶5.  (U) Comment:  The size of the bomb and apparent 
sophistication in the effort to time the explosion to occur in a 
train station for maximum casualties are surprising elements in 
this latest attack.  In the past, KLO attacks typically would 
have specific targets, usually local politicians.  These 
bombing, like the November 5 ULFA attacks (reftel), appear to 
have been seeking greater civilian casualties. Yesterday's 
attack also could be a reflection of the increased activity by 
ULFA following the breakdown in peace negotiations with the GOI. 
 By ratcheting up the violence, ULFA and its allies such as KLO 
may be able to pressure the GOI to seek negotiations with the 
insurgents. 
 
JARDINE