Blasts at Modi’s Patna rally; 5 dead

Monday, 28/10/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131028/main1.htm

Patna : Five persons were killed today in seven low-intensity serial blasts in Patna of which six bombs went off in and around the venue of Narendra Modi's mega rally at Gandhi Maidan shortly before his address before a huge gathering. A total of 83 persons were injured in the explosions that occurred between 9.30 am and 11.45 am.

A couple of hours before the six multiple explosions, a crude bomb went off in a newly constructed toilet at Platform 10 at the Patna railway station, two km from the venue of BJP's 'Hunkar(battle cry) rally'.

Four persons have been detained in Patna, the police said, adding that one of them caught fleeing from the blast site at the railway station appears to be the prime suspect. Some documents and a list of telephone numbers were recovered from the prime suspect whose identity was not revealed.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts. He spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and asked for a speedy probe.

The serial blasts cannot be a coincidence. They occurred on the day of the rally. It seems that a deliberate attempt was made to disrupt the amity of the state and disturb the law and order situation.

Nitish Kumar, Bihar CM

Nitish said the timing of the blasts on the day of his Gujarat counterpart's rally was "very worrying", adding it appeared to be a "deliberate attempt" to vitiate the atmosphere in the state. Nitish said of the 83 injured who had come to Patna Medical College and Hospital, 38 were under treatment and the rest have been discharged.

The bombs which exploded were of low intensity, said DGP Abhyanand. It appears that timers were used to trigger the blasts. The DGP said six live bombs were also recovered and defused by the bomb disposal squad.

Two unexploded bombs each were recovered from near Mahatma Gandhi's statue, the twin towers — both close to the rally venue — and at the rail platform toilet. Five low intensity blasts occurred on the periphery of the Gandhi Maidan, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami said in Delhi. Union Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said it was too early to say whether it was a terror attack.

The BJP blamed the Bihar Government for "failing to provide" proper security cover for Modi's rally.

Nitish, on his part, said: "I would like to assure the BJP that there were no shortcomings in the arrangements.” — PTI

Low-intensity blasts

• Five low intensity blasts occurred on the periphery of the Gandhi Maidan, the rally venue
  
• One bomb went off before the Eliphistine cinema hall on the western side of the rally venue
  
• Hours before the multiple explosions, a crude bomb went off in a newly constructed toilet at the Patna railway station, two km from the rally venue.
  
• A live bomb found at Gandhi maidan was defused