Agencies (mb)
First available picture of blast, from Varanasi
Lucknow, Nov 23: At least four persons were killed and over a dozen injured in serial blasts that rocked civil courts in Lucknow, Faizadbad and Varanasi, Friday.
While four persons were killed in the Faizabad blast, several persons were injured in the Varanasi blast. Three explosions rocked Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The explosions occurred in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi. Reports say that there have been some casualties and many injuries. The serial blasts were at a gap of five minutes from each other. One lawyer is reported to have died in the Faizabad attack. As per sources from Lucknow, the bomb there was kept in a cycle following which the explosion took place.
It seems that this time the legal system was the target of the militants.
Sources had earlier said that the state was sensitive to terror attacks. A few days back three militants were arrested from the state and a terror plot was unveiled.
The blasts were at Lucknow civil court, Varanasi Collectorate and Faizabad civil court.
Meanwhile intelligence agencies are actively working towards finding out details.
Huji terrorist Vali Ullah who is currently in Ghaziabad jail has been alleged to be the mastermind behind the Varanasi attack. Following this Ghaziabad jail security has been tightened.
Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal is saying that it seems that this is a terror attack. However he refused to confirm the same at this stage.
Recent intelligence inputs had stated that 20 to 22 terrorists had been conspiring in Lucknow for a major attack. Security agencies are up and about, but the state is so big that easy identification gets very difficult.
The capital New Delhi alongwith Mumbai and Hyderabad and Bangalore has also been put on high alert.
The police meanwhile have cordoned the affected area and people’s entry has been banned.
IB and media reports suspect the involvement of the JeM in the attacks.
Another explosive substance was recovered in Faizabad. The parcel containing the bomb came in a black bag in the name of Hazi Nasir. The bomb has now been defused by the bomb squad.
The twin blasts in Faizabad are reported to have claimed six lives including a lawyer. Many have been injured too.
UP DGP has confirmed that four people have been killed in the attacks.
Other sources state that 8 were killed including a lawyer and 12 injured in Faizabad.
Lucknow’s IG, A K Jain said that the bomb was kept in a cycle. He said his information from the Faizabad Police is that 5-6 people have been injured, 2 of them seriously. And possibly two places were targeted.
Lawyers are on a protest rampage and they are giving vent to their fury by targeting the local police. They were seen shouting slogans against the police and also condemning the government.
A senior police official has not ruled out more such blasts.
Chronology of major blasts in India
AP
New Delhi: Given below is a chronology of some major bombings in India.
August 25, 2007 : Bombs rip through crowded public areas in Hyderabad, killing at least 42 people.
May 2007 : A bomb at a historic Hyderabad mosque kills 11 people.
February 2007: Bombs detonate on train headed through northern India for Pakistan, killing 68 people.
September 2006: At least 30 people are killed and 100 injured in twin blasts at a mosque in Malegaon in Maharashtra.
July 2006: Seven bombs on Mumbai commuter trains kill more than 200 and injure more than 700 others.
March 2006 : Twin bombings at a train station and a temple in Varanasi kill 20 people.
October 2005 : Three bombs placed in busy New Delhi markets one day before Diwali kill 62 people and wound hundreds.
August 2003 : Two taxis packed with explosives blow up outside a Mumbai tourist attraction and a busy market, killing 52 and wounding more than 100.
March 1993 : Underworld figures tied to Pakistani militants allegedly carry out a series of bombings on Mumbai's stock exchange along with trains, hotels and gas stations in the city, killing 257 people and wounding more than 1,100.