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Three Central teams rushed to Agartala to investigate serial blasts

Sushanta Talukdar

Six detained for questioning; Manmohan Singh speaks to Manik Sarkar

— PHOTO: REUTERS

PIECING IT TOGETHER: Forensic experts examine one of the sites of bomb blasts in Agartala on Thursday.

Guwahati: Three Central teams rushed to Agartala on Thursday to investigate Wednesday night’s serial blasts that left 74 injured, three of them critically.

The teams from the National Security Guards, the Intelligence Bureau and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Kolkata, visited the blast sites to gather evidence. Police have detained six persons for questioning.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar about the blasts and the prevailing situation. Mr. Sarkar apprised Dr. Singh of the incidents and measures initiated by his government.

Dr. Singh strongly condemned the attack on innocent people and wished the injured speedy recovery.

On Wednesday night, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil also spoke to Mr. Sarkar. Mr. Sarkar told The Hindu that he could not comment immediately as the State and Central governments were working together and investigating the matter.

“We hope to be able to form some opinion by tomorrow [Friday].” He had a review meeting with police top brass and senior State government officials. He asked the administration to step up security measures for the Durga Puja festival.

Sources said the government agencies were trying to ascertain if the blasts had any similarity with the ones in Ahmedabad, Delhi and Banglaore.

The police said ammonium nitrate and fuel oil were suspected to have been used in the bombs.

Director-General of Police Pranay Sahay said the police had not been able to pinpoint the involvement of any group or outfit in the blasts. Five cases had been registered in connection with the blasts.

An angle being explored is whether the blasts were the handiwork of forces bent on scuttling the State’s development.

The blasts took place hours after results of the by-election to various local bodies were announced. The ruling Left Front swept the poll, winning 74 per cent of the seats. Of the 153 seats to which by-elections were held on September 27, the Left Front won in 123, with the CPI (M) alone bagging 120 seats. The Left Front has also secured 32 seats uncontested. Candidates of Opposition parties forfeited their securities in most of the seats.

The Opposition Congress, however, accused the Left Front government of ignoring the warnings by Central intelligence agencies and not taking adequate measures to thwart terrorist attacks.

CPI(M) condemns

New Delhi Special Correspondent writes:

The CPI(M) condemned the forces which carried out the blasts in Agartala. The incident was an attempt to undermine the success of the Left Front government in tackling extremism, it said.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said he spoke to Mr. Sarkar on Thursday.

“The Left Front government of Tripura has registered significant success in tackling the extremist groups which resorted to terrorist violence. The explosions must be seen as an attempt to destabilise the situation,” the Polit Bureau said in a statement.

The Polit Bureau conveyed its heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their families. The Centre should extend all help to Tripura in tracking down the culprits, especially in view of the fact that the State had an international border on the three sides.

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