Bomb blasts bring biz to standstill

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. As Guwahati continues to be the center of IT retail in the
entire 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 from 3pm with people protesting against government
inaction and failure of security forces in the state.

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 IT retail market has come to a standstill with sales dipping below 20
percent across the region.