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60 killed, 150 injured as terror strikes Pink City

Sunny Sebastian

Nine or 10 blasts target crowded areas within the Walled City; HuJI hand suspected; nationwide alert

— PHOTO: PTI

DEATH FROM NOWHERE: The passenger did not reach his destination as a Jaipur blast cut short his life on Tuesday.

JAIPUR: Terror struck the Pink City for the first time on Tuesday evening as serial blasts killed at least 60 people and injured more than 150. Starting around 7.30 p.m. there were nine or 10 blasts within 15 minutes at six crowded places, including in the vicinity of two Hanuman temples, in the Walled City area.

Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria confirmed 60 dead and 150 injured though unofficial sources said the casualties could be higher.

Eyewitnesses said they could count 60 bodies in the overflowing mortuary of the City’s leading hospital, Sawai Man Singh. Some bodies were reportedly kept in the satellite hospital, Kanwatia, and a private hospital, Santokbha Durlabhji Memorial.

The blasts caused panic in the entire city while the authorities sealed off the Walled City. No traffic was allowed through its historic gates. The communication system also was jammed with mobiles not giving out signals.

The former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, who spoke to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, said the Centre had assured the State authorities all possible help to handle the situation. Union Minister of State for Home Jaiswal is reaching here on Wednesday.

Director-General Police A.S. Gill told this correspondent that forensic experts were still verifying the nature of the explosives. He did not confirm the use of RDX but said high intensity explosives were used in the bombs.

The blasts outside the temples targeted the devotees who gather in large numbers on Tuesdays. One temple is at Sanganeri Gate, while the other is at Chandpole.

The Chandpole blast was said to be of less intensity while the explosion on Maniharon ka Rasta near the victory tower, Sargasuli at Tripolia, was the most powerful.

The explosions at Bari Chauper near the world famous Hawa Mahal claimed at least three lives.

One of the bombs went off near a popular eating-place, Laxmi Mishtan Bhandar, in the crowded Johari Bazar area. Another exploded near the Kothwali police station at Choti Chauper. There are also reports that at least one live bomb was recovered near Chandpole.

Initial reports suggested that the terrorists used vehicles, including a car, cyclerickshaws and autorickshaws to plant the bombs, which were detonated with remote-controlled devices.

PTI reports:

Bangladesh-based Harkut-ul-Jehadi Islami (HuJI) is suspected to be behind the blasts that have taken the State authorities by surprise, Home Ministry sources said.

Rapid Action Force personnel were immediately deployed to help authorities deal with the situation even as security was beefed up.

One of the blasts took place in a car and another near a handloom shop in the Kotwali area, the sources said.

At the blast sites, crammed with peak-hour shoppers, panic-stricken people ran helter skelter.

Condemned

Condemning the attack, President Pratibha Patil appealed for peace and calm.

Terming the blasts “despicable and dastardly acts”, Vice-President Hamid Ansari expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of those killed and the injured.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was briefed on the blasts, deplored the attack on innocent people.

The Union Home Ministry sounded a nation-wide alert.

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