M A I N   N E W S

7 die in Mumbai house blast

Mumbai, July 31
Seven persons, including two women and three children, were killed and 26 injured in a powerful explosion early today in the house of a man engaged in manufacturing explosives for Bollywood shootings.

The house owner, Dilnawaz Mustafa Khan (36), his wife Anjum (32), their daughter Sher Bano and a relative, Aslam Ayub Khan, were among those killed in the blast that occurred at 3.20 a.m. in suburban Jogeshwari, three days after an explosion suspected to be carried out by Lashkar-e-Toiba ripped through a BEST bus in Ghatkopar area.

Their neighbours, Gaurav Manohar Chauhan, Sanchita Manohar Chauhan and Siddhi Chetan Singh, were also killed in the blast.

Of the 26 injured, nine were admitted to hospital. Four of them are in ICU. Others were discharged after first aid.

The brother-in-law of Dilnawaz, Ayub Khan, who was staying in another locality and found at the scene of the blast, has been detained on suspicion and is being interrogated, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satyapal Singh told reporters.

The police is also trying to ascertain whether Dilnawaz had any links with terrorists, he said.

Joint Commissioner of Police Javed Ahmed said three pieces of pipes used in pyrotechnic film stunts were found in the house of Dilnawaz, who migrated from Uttar Pradesh in 1986.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal told reporters that the Jogeshwari blast appeared to be “99 per cent an accident case”. — PTI