NEW DELHI: Perpetrators of Tuesday's serial blasts in Mumbai's suburban trains had a two-fold objective — to shatter peace, tranquillity and understanding and create divisions among various sections of society, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said here on Wednesday.

"This is our responsibility to see that these objectives of disturbing peace and creating divisions in society are not achieved and opportunities to terrorists become less. The Prime Minister has clearly said that we will deal firmly with the situation. We have spoken to Chief Ministers of various States like Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, they are all feeling confident of maintaining peace and upholding law and order," Mr. Patil told reporters.

Addressing a press conference, he said though the Government has collected a lot of information "we would not like to divulge anything as it would deflect the attention of the police and investigators probing the seven blasts."

Asked about the Opposition charge that the UPA Government was "soft" on terrorists, Mr. Patil said that Opposition parties, when in power, also had similar experiences. "We must appreciate that all political parties have conducted themselves in a very responsible manner. My impression is that Opposition parties understand the situation," he added.

Union Home Secretary V. K. Duggalsaid the toll stood at 183 killed and 714 injured. "Investigations are on in full swing. The Mumbai police are hopeful of getting some leads. So far nobody has claimed responsibility but we will get the culprits soon," he said.

Though there was no link between grenade attacks in Srinagar and the local train blasts in Mumbai, Mr. Duggal said people behind both attacks were the same. "The purpose behind both incidents is common and so are the people working behind them. The objective is to destabilise the country," he said.

He said the Railways have announced a relief of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of the kin of those dead and adequate compensation and free medical treatment to those injured.

Mr. Duggal said that a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, identified as Abu Hamz, was killed by security forces in Anantnag and a person, Mudassar, who was reportedly supplying grenades, was arrested in Srinagar.

In the wake of the Mumbai serial blasts, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel on Wednesday undertook a comprehensive review of security arrangements at all airports.

Mr. Patel said a comprehensive plan for all airports for ensuring total security would be formulated. According top priority to security needs, it was decided that explosive detection devices would be upgraded.

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