Terrorism

New Delhi: Atleast six persons were killed and over 38 injured in two serial blasts in Western Indian states of Gujarat and Maharashtra on Monday. While a medium intensity blast killed atleast two people and injured over 13 in Modasa town of Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, a crude bomb explosion in Malegaon town of Maharashtra killed atleast four persons and injured 25 others.

In Gujarat the blast took place at Sookha Baazar area of the minority dominated Modasa town of Sabarkantha district. According to eyewitnesses, the bomb, which was planted on a parked Hero Honda motorcycle, went off at about 9:30 pm when people were busy in marketing for Eid. Police suppose that timer was used to trigger the crude bomb after electronic circuits were recovered from the site.

A 15 year old boy, Jainuddin Ghori, was among the two persons killed in the blast. District Superintendent of Police R P Brahmbhatt was supervising investigations at the spot even as senior police officials from Ahmedabad rushed to the town. The explosion comes close on the heels of 17 crude bombs being recovered from the Kalupur area of Ahmedabad earlier on Monday.

In Malegaon, the blast took place at around 9:30 pm outside a hotel at Anjuman Chowk killing four people and injuring 25 others. Clashes broke out between angry residents and local police after the blast. The police reportedly opened fire to disperse the crowd after it resorted to stone pelting injuring five policemen including a Deputy SP. Section 144, which prevents the assembly of four persons, was enforced in the entire area.

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil had earlier said that the nature of the blast was not known and the police were investigating the matter. He said that additional police forces were sent to the communal sensitive town, which had witnessed a bomb blast about two years ago in 2006.

These blasts come one day after a 13 year old boy was killed and 20 others were injured in a blast at Mehrauli in South Delhi on Saturday. The Union Home Ministry is in touch with senior officials of the two states and is looking into the matter. The Ministry has urged people to guard against rumours.