New Delhi - The death toll from serial blasts that rocked
India's commercial city of Ahmedabad climbed to 40 on Sunday, as
three live bombs were defused in the panic-stricken metropolis, news
reports said.
A total of 16 explosions injured more than 100 people in markets,
residential areas, public transport and hospitals in the principal
city of western Gujarat state within 70 minutes on Saturday evening.
Doctors at various hospitals where the wounded were taken told the
IANS news agency that 11 more people had died overnight and the death
toll that stood at 40 was likely to rise as 20 people were 'seriously
injured'.
Police believe that the explosions were caused by crudely made
devices containing ammonium nitrate, ball bearings and other shrapnel
that were hidden in boxes on bicycles.
Two bombs that exploded near a bus and a trauma centre were
believed to have been planted in cars. Police were also investigating
unconfirmed reports that there was one suicide bombing.
The well-coordinated attacks came a day after eight low-intensity
bombs killed two people in hit the southern city of Bangalore.
A little-known Muslim terrorist group called the Indian Mujahideen
claimed responsibility for the bombings, calling them 'revenge' for
the Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002. More than 1,000 people,
mostly Muslims, were killed in that sectarian carnage.
The Indian Mujahideen, which security agencies believe is a
'smokescreen' for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant group, also
claimed responsibility for the first major attack in India this year
which killed 65 people in northern Jaipur city in May.
Tension was palpable in Ahmedabad on Sunday as police teams
deactivated three more live bombs in the Hatkeshwar and Maninagar
areas that were hit by blasts earlier, the NDTV network reported.
Many people remained indoors for fear of further attacks and the
police have detained 30 people up some questioning as it intensified
its probe, the report said.
Government troops also marched in the sensitive areas in the city
to instill a sense of security among residents and prevent any
violence in the communally sensitive state.
Indian leaders including President Pratibha Patil and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh appealed for calm and communal harmony in the
state.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the 'the land of Mahatma
Gandhi has been bloodied by terrorists whom we shall not
spare'.'Terrorists are waging a war against India. We should be
prepared for a long battle against terrorism,' he said.
Meanwhile, India's Federal Home Ministry that has been rattled by
as many as 24 small blasts in two key cities over the past two days
began a high-level security meeting in Indian capital New Delhi later
on Sunday.
The Indian government has already stepped up security across the
country and placed police on high-alert in other major cities
including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
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