Three blasts rocked the most crowded parts of the city of Mumbai between 6.30 and 7.00 PM. While the Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed the death of at least 20 dead and 113 injured, state home officials fear that the number of deaths will rise significantly by late tonight.
The blasts that took place at Dadar in central Mumbai and Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House in south Mumbai were a result of Improvised explosive device (IED) that was used to trigger the blasts leading the Home department to confirm that it was a terror attack.
The blasts which bear a strong resemblance to the serial blasts of 93 have come in the wake of fears expressed by the State police of some sort of terror attack in the city. The current strike consisted of explosives placed in a taxi, a meter box and locations where they could be remotely detonated.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram who conducted a high-level security meeting with intelligence agencies, said number of deaths and injured could go higher. He said the elite National Security Guard (NSG), which has a hub in Mumbai have been put on alert to help Mumbai police in any emergency. Also two forensic teams from Delhi and Hyderabad were on way to the commercial capital by special aircrafts.
Chidambaram, however, immediately refused to attribute the blast to terrorist strike and appealed city people to remain calm and maintain peace. He said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was already in Mumbai and assisting police.
ATS officials who are now at the site of the blasts have told Tehelka that although there can be a connection of the Indian Mujahideen whose members were arrested in the last two days in Mumbai, unless proper investigation is done , they will not make a statement.
Top security officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs, however, confirmed that serial blasts were terrorist attacks. Preliminary investigations have revealed that 7 IEDs were used and the explosive device was wrapped in cloth bags and tiffin carriers.
Maharashtra State Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, speaking to Tehelka, said that at this point of time knowing the precursors of the attack neither the Mafia nor terror organisations can be ruled out. State Home officials insist that although the blasts bear the same mark as that done initially by the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, it would be true early to point out fingers at any particular outfit especially till the foresnsic reports are out.
Officials in New Delhi, while confirming that the pattern and nature of blasts bears the signature of the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, have alerted states fearing these groups may try and trigger off similar blasts in other parts of the country.
According to their initial assessment the targets were chosen carefully to achieve maximum impact. Not only are these areas sensitive in nature, but they are crowded too, thus making it an apt spot for terrorists to strike, they say, adding, that looking at the manner in which these blasts have been planned, it becomes clear that the intention of the terrorist group was not to create a scare, but to create major damage.
“We are picking up leads from the eye witnesses and it is still very early to come to any definitive conclusion,” the officials said.
According to an American intelligence website STRATFOR, the tactic was much more in line with those used by more amateurish groups, who have targeted crowded urban areas before. In Delhi security was heightened at sensitive places includes metros and railway stations. An intense searches and checks were being carried out at underground metro stations. Terror struck Mumbai just a week ahead of India-Pakistan ministerial level talks. Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbai Khar is expected to arrive India on July 27 to review bilateral dialogue process. Last time, in 2008 the arrival of Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had coincided with 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.
In the last one month, Mumbai which has witnessed two underworld attacks, this could also be a significant development and this aspect will certainly be looked into said a senior Minister from the State.
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