Mumbai: Day after blasts, Mumbaikars venture out boldly

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Mumbai, July 14, 2011: A day after three three blasts rocked India’s financial and entertainment hub, Mumbaikars with their unshakable spirit Thursday ventured out of their homes and resumed their daily chores.

On Wednesday evening, at least 17 people were killed and 131 injured as three blasts ripped through the city -- at Dadar in central Mumbai and Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House in south Mumbai -- making it the worst terror attack since the 26/11 savagery.

The city’s lifeline -- the Western Railway, Central Railway and the BEST buses -- had the usual crowds of office-goers this morning.

"Today, on account of very heavy rains in the city and Thane, a few people decided to stay put at home, but a majority are out as usual," Kiran S.V., an executive who works in Worli, barely three kilometres from the scene of blast in Dadar, told IANS.

A resident of Mira Road suburb of Thane, she said even her two children went to school "as usual" and everything appeared to be like any other day.

Archana Shukla, who works in south Mumbai, said that she "never even expected" suburban trains to run empty today.

"I am a Mumbaikar and we shall not be scared by these terror attacks. Like me, lakhs of co-commuters are in the trains, buses and roads. It actually gives strength to each other," Archana said.

Mehul Shah, a tax consultant from Malad, said he started 15 minutes early for his office, anticipating delays on account of the rains and was happy to notice that thousands of other commuters had also started early for work.

Similarly, schools, colleges, shops and commercial establishments were open and working as usual all over the city and suburbs.

Meanwhile, train services on the Central Railway were disrupted Thursday morning due to heavy rains since Wednesday.

A railway official said that there was waterlogging on the tracks between Thane-Kalwe stations, leading to delays and disruption in services.


13 proves unlucky again

Intelligence sources say choice of date and modus operandi point towards possible Indian Mujahideen involvementNational Investigative Agency and Intelligence Bureau have been keeping a close watch on areas of Old Delhi for the past few days

Though the probe is in its initial stages, sources in intelligence agencies suggest that a regrouped and rejuvenated Indian Mujahideen (IM) could be behind the serial blasts in Mumbai. Interestingly, be it September 13, 2008 (Delhi) or May 13, 2008 (Jaipur), terrorists have made it a point to strike on the 13th day of the month.

"There is evidence (in about half-a-dozen cases they chose the 13th day of the month to carry out attacks) and terrorists have even pointed it out in their e-mails that they will target cities on that day and even then the security agencies will not be able to stop them," sources said.

"There were inputs that some new modules of Indian Mujahideen might have become active in the Capital and other cities after the neutralisation of their faction led by Atif Ameen in the Batla House encounter in 2008," they added.

Intelligence Bureau sources, meanwhile, said that they had shared the information with all states recently of possibility of bomb blasts. "We had issued an alert stating that terrorists may target ’cities’ of India," an IB official said. 

According to reports, terrorists have recently started using words like ’cities’ instead of Capital in their conversation, which are intercepted and the same are shared with all states. Sources say that Delhi too could be targeted and that some important installations in the city are already on the radar of unscrupulous elements.

"Delhi has always been their prime target," sources said. Meanwhile, after the serial blasts in Mumbai, Delhi was put on red alert and commissioner of police BK Gupta announced that he will personally conduct patrolling in the night.A senior police official said top officers were reviewing the security situation in the city.

"A tight security apparatus has been put in place. Senior officials are on the streets monitoring the security scenario. Police personnel have been deployed across the city," a senior police official said. He also said that police personnel have been deployed at public places like malls, cinema halls, parks, popular hangouts, ISBT and railway station.

Speaking to MiD DAY, the public relations officer of Delhi police Rajan Bhagat said that anti-terrorist measures are being taken after Mumbai’s incident and checking across the city has been strengthened.

"We are carrying out checks at all important installations across the Capital," Bhagat said. Meanwhile, home minister P Chidambaram in a press briefing in the Capital said, "The blasts occurred at about 6.45 pm and there is confirmation of about 10 deaths. 54 people have been taken to hospital with injuries. The number of injuries could be higher; the death toll could also rise."

"This was a coordinated attack by terrorists. Mumbai Police, medical services and fire services have been on the scene since about 7.15 pm," he added.  Chidambaram also said that National Security Guard, NSG which has a hub in Mumbai is on a stand-by and a CFSL team with personnel from Delhi and Hyderabad are being flown on a special aircraft to Mumbai for probe. "The city is on an alert and we appeal to people to remain calm," he said. 

Courtesy: Mid-Day