Serial bomb blasts ripped through Assam killing over 70 people and leaving
hundreds injured. The IT retail community has been hit hard with sales dipping
at a record low. Four blasts took place in Guwahati. As Guwahati is the centre
of IT retail in the Northeast region, the blasts have not only adversely
affected the state of Assam, but have put a halt on other states also, mainly
Tripura and Nagaland.
“Already sales were at an all time low this festive season due to the global
slowdown, and now the problem has become acute. With security concerns becoming
a major issue, progress in IT retail has been halted and other sectors in retail
are also suffering,” commented Swarup Sinha, Joint Director, Advantage
Computers, Guwahati.
The blasts took place in major areas in Ganeshguri and Pan Bazar around 11am
killing 32 people instantly. With the death toll rising, Guwahati was soon
engulfed under curfew with people protesting against government inaction and
failure of security forces in the state.
“There has been a failure on part of the security agencies to curb insurgency
in the state. This is the biggest blast ever in the entire Northeast region. Not
only has the state been affected but purchase orders from adjoining states,
which comprises a major share of our revenue, has also been cancelled,” said
Aditya Jalan, CEO, Complete Solution, Guwahati.
While Assam tried to return to normal life with corporate offices and schools
remaining open, the state was caught between civic tensions, with
anti-government riots breaking up in Guwahati.
“There has been no relief even after the blasts. We expected the curfew to be
called off today, but again Guwahati will be under curfew from 6:30pm today
because of the protests with the police opening fire on protestors,” Jalan
added.
As major shipment and purchase order cancellations have become the order of
the day in the Northeast with major companies backing off from the Seven
Sisters, the blasts have worsened the situation. However, the channel community
in Assam is expecting the aggravated situation to normalise in two weeks time.
“The situation in Assam and Nagaland is grave. I wonder how long we will be
able to continue our business here when this region is under such threat. Sales
have gone down drastically and now it'll worsen,” said Ranjan Das, Joint
Director, Elite Computers and Communication, Guwahati.