M A I N   N E W S

3 cops hurt in blast near SC
RDX seized, militant arrested

NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (PTI) — Three persons, including two policemen were injured when three crude bombs exploded at one of the entry points of the Supreme Court here this morning, the police said.

A man in his late thirties, identified as Upendra Mohanty, who allegedly hurled the low-intensity bombs, was arrested from the spot, they said.

The bombs were hurled at gate no 17 at around 11.45 a.m.

A head constable, a constable of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) manning the gate and a roadside vendor received splinter injuries, they said.

During preliminary interrogation, the accused said he was denied entry inside the premises of the apex court on September 24 by the security staff.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Ashok Chand said “the accused is being interrogated and prima facie it seems an act of disgruntledness on his part.”

Mr Chand said the accused was not able to give any suitable answer to the questions.

The crude bomb consisted of nails and bearings besides some explosive material.

The police has discounted the involvement of any organisation behind the explosions. “It seems to be the act by a deranged individual,” said one of the police officers.

The crude bombs injured Delhi Police ASI Ishwar Chand Negi and CISF head constable Kanha Ram who were on duty at the gate besides a fruit seller identified as Santosh. Kanha Ram and Santosh were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital while Ishwar Chand who received injuries in his left eye was taken to specialists for treatment.

According to the police and eyewitnesses, Mohanty was carrying a bag, a Tricolour flag and also a poster of Subhas Chandra Bose when he approached the gate.

“He stood by a kiosk near the gate and threw the three bombs one after the other,” said Ms Prabhati Nayak, a journalist who happened to be standing on the other side of the road and was witness to the incident. She said the assailant was wearing a Gandhi cap and looked impoverished.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police claimed to have averted a major tragedy by seizing three kg of the highly lethal RDX explosives in the walled city yesterday.

The police said one Ali Mohammad, described as activist of an outfit called Tahir Mujahideen, had been arrested in the Darya Ganj area in the crowded walled city.

The police had recovered three kg of RDX and Rs 10 lakh in cash from Ali Mohammad, who was produced in the court today.