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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Nationwide alert sounded after blasts

Vinay Kumar

Centre promises all help to Rajasthan in dealing with the extraordinary situation

President, Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi condemn the blasts
Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta speaks to Rajasthan Chief Secretary

PHOTO: AP

INNOCENT VICTIMS: Injured persons being carried from blast sites in Jaipur on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the serial blasts in Jaipur on Tuesday, the Union government has put all metros, including the National Capital and two-tier cities, on a nationwide high alert.

A team of the Union Home Ministry left for Jaipur to assess the situation and undertake a comprehensive security review with the State government.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, while strongly condemning the blasts, said the Centre would provide all possible assistance to the Rajasthan government to carry out investigations and get to the bottom of the “deep-rooted conspiracy” behind the terror attack.

Mr. Jaiswal told journalists that it was a “well-orchestrated and well-attempted plot” to carry out terror strikes in the heart of the pink city.

A complete security review would be undertaken by the Home Ministry and the government would give a united and strong response to such nefarious designs of terrorists.

Mr. Jaiswal did not rule out the use of RDX in the Jaipur blasts. He said the casualties could go up as more injured were being rushed to hospitals.

PHOTO: PTI

Scooters found smashed near the Hanuman Mandir.

President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil condemned the blasts. Ms. Gandhi described the incidents as a “crime against humanity.”

Mr. Patil is on a two-day visit to Meghalaya and Nagaland and he is being informed of the situation.

Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to the Rajasthan Chief Secretary and is awaiting further details.

PHOTO: AP

SHELL-SHOCKED: Agony and anxiety writ large on the faces of people at a blast site.

Sources in the internal security and intelligence set-up said Rajasthan was never on the terror radar network and only on Monday was an IPL cricket match played in a city stadium, which saw a large turnout.

The sources did not rule out the existence of “sleeper cells” of terrorist outfits such as the Bangladesh-based HuJI, which were waiting to get activated with the help of local sympathisers and supporters and strike in crowded areas, causing a maximum number of casualties.

Security and intelligence agencies said a squad from the bomb detection unit of the National Security Guard (NSG) was rushing to Jaipur to carry out forensic investigations. Some of the bombs were said to have been placed on cycles and packed with shrapnel and some low-intensity explosives, the sources said.

PHOTO: PTI

A vendor's push cart stands mute witness to the tragedy at Johri Bazaar.

About seven months ago, the holy city of Ajmer, nearly 120 km from Jaipur, was rocked by a bomb blast and the Dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz has since been fortified. Intelligence inputs this time did not indicate the possibility of Jaipur being high on the “strike list” of terror organisations, the sources said.

Tight security in Delhi

Devesh K. Pandey reports:

In Delhi, Deputy Commissioners of Police were directed to take preventive measures and increase vigilance. Deployment was stepped up at religious places, markets and places of tourist attraction such as the Akshardham temple, India Gate, the Red Fort, the Lotus Temple and the ISKCON temple.

Policemen were asked to check vehicles entering the city from the neighbouring States, particularly from Rajasthan.

Police conducted checks at hotels and guesthouses in the Walled City area and some parts of South Delhi. The Delhi Fire Service and hospitals were put on alert and bomb detection squads pressed into action to carry out anti-sabotage checks at vital installations.

Police personnel posted at railway stations were directed to keep a close watch on suspicious activities. Security at all the metro railway stations was also beefed up. The police, in coordination with the Central Industrial Security Force, reviewed the security arrangements at the Delhi airport. Besides, patrolling was intensified in security sensitive areas.

“If required, we will extend all possible help to our counterparts in Jaipur in conducting investigations into the blasts,” said a senior police officer.

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