M A I N   N E W S

5 blasts in Delhi, 25 dead
Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility
Preliminary examination says low-intensity ammonium nitrate tied to integrated circuit used
Sandeep Yadav/Ravi Bhatia
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 13
At least 25 persons were killed and over 100 injured this evening when five low-intensity serial bomb blasts rocked three major markets here, in what appeared to be a meticulously planned terrorist attack in the national capital.

Two explosions each occurred in Connaught Place and Greater Kailash and one in Gaffar Market in the time span of about half an hour. The first explosion shook the busy Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh at 6.10 pm. At least, seven people reportedly died in this blast and some 20 were injured.

The second bomb went off 10 minutes later in the Central Park, Connaught Place, followed by another explosion five minutes later outside Gopal Dass Bhawan near Metro Rail Station on Barakhamba road. More than 12 people died and around 60 were said to be injured in the twin blasts in Connaught Place. According to eyewitnesses, more than 300 people were in the park when the blasts went off.

TERROR- STRUCK
An injured woman being taken to hospital after a bomb blast near Gopaldas Building at Connaught Place in New Delhi on Saturday.	An injured girl being taken to RML Hospital in New Delhi on Saturday.		Two young girls help a scared friend in CP. — PTI photos
Policemen inspect a dustbin at the site of blast near the Gopaldas Building at Connaught Place in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI		The damaged auto-rickshaw whose driver and passengers were critically injured after the blast at Gaffar Market.
An injured being taken to RML Hospital. Photos: Mukesh Aggarwal/Agencies		A woman cries after losing her relative in Karol Bagh.

The two blasts in Greater Kailash M-Block Market occurred around 6.30 pm, within minutes of each other, killing one person and rendering many injured. While the bomb which exploded in Gaffar Market area was planted in an autorickshaw, those which occurred in Connaught Place and Greater Kailash market were placed in garbage bins and a bicycle.

The injured were rushed to AIIMS and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. With some of the injured said to be serious, the casualties are expected to go up. At least half a dozen live bombs were detected and defused at India Gate, Central Park in Connuaght Place and Parliament Street. The police sought the help of the National Security Guards (NSG) experts to defuse these bombs.

The next of the kin of each of the dead were given compensation of Rs 8 lakh — Rs 5 lakh by the Delhi government and Rs 3 lakh by the Centre.

The police has detained three persons, one of whom is said to be the brain behind the serial blasts.

Indian Mujahideen, a home-grown terror organisation, has owned responsibility for the blasts in the capital via an e-mail to various media organisations. The e-mail sent by ‘Arbi Hind’ from the email-id al-arbi_delhi@yahoo.com, claimed that 9 blasts would rock the capital that would stop the pulse of the country. The security agencies are investigating the source of email. The email apparently originated from Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has ruled out the use of RDX in the bomb explosions. According to police sources, preliminary investigations point towards the use of ammonium nitrate, which was also apparently used in Bangalore and Ahmedabad blasts in July.

Karnal Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), said, “No RDX was used in the bombs”.

Commissioner of Police Y S Dadwal who visited the blasts site at Central Park, Connaught Place, appealed to the people to maintain calm. Refraining from divulging anything about the investigation, Dadwal said that it was too early to jump to any conclusion. “The officials are busy in the investigation and we would be able to clear the air only after the investigation is complete”, he added.

A team of the special cell of the Delhi police has been able to find a person who claims to have seen the bomber. According to a police source, a balloon seller at India Gate has told the police that the bomber was dressed in black clothes.

Meanwhile, the capital has been put on high alert after the blasts and heavy deployment of police personnel was seen all around. The police claimed to have searched all the garbage cans between Connaught Place and India Gate. Sarojini Nagar market in South Delhi, which had witnessed bomb blasts on the eve of Diwali in 2005, was closed and people were asked to leave the market.