The Centre on Thursday described the near simultaneous explosions in Pune as a planned and coordinated act.
Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said forensic experts were examining the two unexploded IEDs and nature of the four blasts.
“Since the blasts have taken place within an area of 500 metres and
within a span of 45 minutes, it appears to be a coordinated act. I am
sure there was a plan behind it,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
Mr. Singh said teams of National Investigation Agency, National Security
Guards and Central Forensic Science Laboratory reached Pune early
Thursday morning and were examining the explosives.
“They have examined two IEDs which had not exploded. There are three
detonators in each and other peculiarity. Investigation is on. We are
making progress,” he said.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said there was no update on the blasts so far.
Mr. Shinde, who assumed charge of the key department on Wednesday, held a
high-level meeting with top Home Ministry oficials to review the
security scenario in the country, particularly Pune, in view of
Wednesday night’s blasts.
Pune blasts taken very seriously: Shinde
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday said the
Centre has taken the near
simultaneous explosions in Pune “very
seriously” and investigators were looking for clues.
“We have taken it very seriously,” Mr. Shinde told reporters in New
Delhi after a high-level meeting which reviewed the security situation
in the country in the wake of Wednesday evening’s blasts in Pune.
Mr. Shinde said a team of National Investigation and experts of National
Security Guards were already in Pune and they have joined the
investigation with Maharashtra Police.
“The report of the investigation has not yet come,” he said, adding, one injured person had been admitted to hospital.
Asked how he would like to describe Wednesday’s four explosions in his
home state, the minister said “I cannot say what sort of attack it was“.
Mr. Shinde also said he has no immediate plan to visit Pune.
Wednesday’s blasts took place hours after Mr. Shinde assumed charge of the key Home Ministry.
‘Terror angle being probed’
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil on Thursday said
investigating agencies were probing all angles to determine whether any
terror outfit was behind the low intensity serial bomb blasts that
rocked the city on Wednesday night.
“Whether it was a terrorist act or not will be determined only after
proper investigations are carried out by Maharashtra ATS, city crime
branch and central agencies,” Mr. Patil told reporters after visiting
the four blast sites on J.M. Road in Pune.
Four coordinated low-intensity explosions struck the busy arterial J.M.
Road in the heart of Pune on Wednesday night. The explosions occurred at
spots near the Balgandharva Theatre, a Dena Bank branch, a McDonald
food outlet and the Garware Bridge on the road.
Asked whether there could be a “saffron terror” angle to the incident,
he said, “All angles are being probed and it will not be proper to
comment at this stage.”
He said the person injured in one of the blasts — near the Bal Gandharva theatre — was being treated for minor injuries.
The injured person — Dayanand Patil, who hails from a nearby village of
Uruli Kanchan, had reportedly visited the spot opposite the Balgandharva
Theatre, where a dharna by India Against Corruption (IAC) was in progress.
After he left the place, the explosive, which had apparently been put in
his carry bag, exploded on the way, police sources said.
Unconfirmed reports said ammonium nitrate could have been the substance
used in the blast triggered by small detonators and pencil cells.
Police have also issued an advisory to IAC activists to wind up the dharna pandal for security reasons.
Life in the city returned to normal late night as the blasts did not cause any large scale damage.
Police have appealed to people to ignore rumours and carry on daily routine without fear.
