The Hindu

HUBLI, May 12: Investigating officers on Sunday suspected the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and SIMI in the blast that occurred in a Hubli court on Saturday.

Speaking to presspersons after the arrival of forensic experts and National Security Guard personnel in Hubli, Police Commissioner Narayan Nadamani said that preliminary investigation had revealed the involvement of the activists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the banned SIMI.

Mr. Nadamani clarified that the blast was triggered by an improvised explosive device. Clues had been obtained based on which investigation was being carried out, he added.

He said Major Paritosh of the National Security Guard from Delhi and forensic experts from Bangalore Jayaram and Jagadish were in Hubli to carry out investigation. Mr. Nadamani said security had been tightened at railway stations, bus stands, and bomb detection squad had been pressed into service.

He said that the Hubli Court Complex would have only one entrance from now. “All the other entrances to the court complex would be closed down and all persons entering the premises would be subjected to checks.”

UPA negligent: Advani

The former Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, said that the soft-pedalling of the issue concerning terror by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government was responsible for the increase in terrorist activities in the country. He was speaking to presspersons after arrival at the Hubli Airport on Sunday before leaving for Delhi.

Mr. Advani said that since 2004, there had been a spurt in terror-related activities. The main reason for this development was the soft-pedalling of the issue by the Union Government and the delay in punishing culprits involved in terror and those spreading hatred, he said.