From rxpgnews.com
Rickshaw puller recalls carrying bomber
By Syed Zarir Hussain, RxPG News Service,
Nov 25, 2006 - 4:41:12 PM
Guwahati, Nov 25 - Laxman Yadav is lucky to have survived the explosion at the railway station here that killed three people and wounded 12. But he is still in shock -- after all he carried the bomber on his cycle rickshaw and the bomb as well.
Yadav is recuperating at a hospital with multiple injuries in his arms, legs and chest following the devastating explosion Thursday. The bomber had got off his rickshaw, and the bomb went off soon afterward barely two meters away from Yadav who was resting on a pavement.
With hands and legs bandaged and his face showing clear signs of shock, Yadav recounts: 'A tall fair complexioned youth boarded my rickshaw from Uzanbazar and asked me to drop him at the railway station.'
Yadav reached the station around 5.20 p.m.
'The youth got down near the parking lot and asked me to wait for a few minutes saying he would return after purchasing a train ticket,' Yadav told IANS.
Just before leaving, the youth asked Yadav to keep a watch on his tattered bag that he had left on the rickshaw.
'I said, 'Ok, don't worry about your bag',' said Yadav. 'I got off the rickshaw and sat on a pavement.'
Barely 10 minutes after the mysterious youth left, there was a huge deafening explosion and the rickshaw was ripped apart.
'I saw my rickshaw tossed up in the air and then saw blood oozing from my hands and legs. I don't remember anything after that. I became unconscious,' said Yadav. 'It was destiny I am alive today.'
Three members of a family including an infant waiting near the rickshaw were killed instantly and Yadav and 11 others were injured. The bag his rickshaw had a timer attached to it.
'The very thought of carrying the bomber in my rickshaw is frightening. The boy was wearing some kind of a red shirt,' recalled Yadav, who is originally from Bihar and has made Guwahati his home.
'I cannot forget the sight. Even when I get fit, I will be scared to drive a rickshaw.'
No one claimed responsibility for the blast, but authorities said the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom - was to blame.
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