Pune: 1 hurt in 4 minor blasts; 14 states on high alert

Mangalore Today News Network/CNN-IBN

Pune,Aug 02, 2012: Four low-intensity bomb blasts in quick succession shook Pune on Wednesday evening injuring at least one person. While the first three blasts took place within a radius of one km at the Jungli Maharaj Road, the fourth blast was reported from the Garware Chowk. There was also a fifth bomb which was, however, defused near a McDonalds outlet in the city.

Fourteen states have been put on high alert including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra.

Sources say the material used in Pune blasts suggest it was a well planned attack. The wires connected with watches and detonators have been recovered from blast spots, the sources added.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confirmed that the blasts took place between 7:25 pm and 8:15 pm on Wednesday evening.

According to reports, while one bomb was placed in a garbage can, another was on a cycle carrier.

Bomb-disposal squads were rushed to the spot following the explosion.

The first three explosions took place near Dena Bank, Bal Gandharv theatre and a McDonalds outlet on the Jungli Maharaj Road, which is a popular hangout for the students in the city.

Notably, Shinde was supposed to visit Bal Gandharv theatre on Wednesday evening. He, however, cancelled the visit earlier on Wednesday.

Pune Police commissioner Gulabrao Pol has, however, ruled out a terror attack saying, "It is not terror, it is some mischief. It is low intensity blast and took place at three spot."

While Pol described the explosions as an act of mischief but Union Home Secretary RK Singh said terror angle cannot be ruled out since it seems to be a planned attack.

According to the Home Secretary, a man allegedly carrying one of the bombs was injured in the explosions and has been taken into custody and is being interrogated, Singh said. He has been admitted to a local hospital.

The Pune Police commissioner said the explosives carried by the injured man were kept in a cake box with sticky material, two detonators and a pencil cell.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guards (NSG) have been alerted following the blasts. NIA teams have been rushed from New Delhi and Mumbai to Pune.

Condemning the blasts, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was an alarm for the UPA government to take stern action against terror activities.

The party said it stood in support of the government on the issue of terrorism and demanded strong action against terror activities.

"BJP condemns these blasts. The nation should stand united in such times as such incidents spread terror. BJP demands strong action against the terrorists indulging in such activities...This is an alarm for the government as the blasts came a day ahead of the proposed visit of the Home Minister," BJP’s spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

He said such acts of terrorism give a fillip to the morale of terrorists and demanded stern action against behind the blasts. The party said the government should take stern action such incidents that had taken place in the past also as it will send the right message to those involved in such acts.

"BJP is completely with the government in its action against terrorist activities. BJP appeals to the nation to remain united in such situations....BJP alerts the government for initiating strong action against those behind the spread of terror," said Hussain.

Expressing deep concern over the Pune bomb blasts, JD(U) attacked the UPA government accusing it of having failed to protect the life and property of the people of the country and said it has no moral right to remain in power anymore.

"JD(U) expresses deep concern over the bomb blasts in Pune and deeply condemns this inhuman act. UPA has failed to protect the life and property of its own countrymen and has no moral right to remain in chair," said JD(U) general secretary Javed Raza.