The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

Blasts triggered by mobile phones
Syed Ali Ahmed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 13
The serial bomb blasts that shook the Capital today were meticulously planned and executed, according to highly placed sources in the Delhi police. The bombs were apparently triggered by mobile phones. The authorities jammed mobile telephone network in Connaught Place and most of the major markets of Delhi.

While the police could not confirm who were behind the blasts, a terrorist organisation, Indian Mujahideen, in an e-mail message to some of the TV channels claimed responsibility for the explosions and said more such attacks would follow.

Senior forensic science laboratory officials, who examined sites of the blast, were not sure what kind of explosive was used in the explosions. Samples of debris of the site have been collected and sent for chemical examination.

The explosions were planned was evident from the fact that the blasts took place in busy markets like Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh, which are crowded on weekends.

Delhi police chief Y.S Dadwal said all explosions were of high intensity. As far as Connaught Place explosion is concerned, its impact was felt even at a distance of more than 200 feet.

	Prez, PM call for calm New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leaders of different parties and organisations today strongly condemned the serial blasts in Delhi and appealed to the people of the capital to maintain calm. In a statement, President Patil said condoled the loss of life in ‘’this mindless act of violence’ and wished speedy recovery to those injured. The Prime Minister, condemning the blasts, expressed grief over the loss of life. Sonia, describing the blasts as an ‘act of cowardice’, asserted that those behind the explosions would not be spared.
	Traders saved the day New Delhi: In the chic M-block market of Greater Kailash in South Delhi, an innovative public address system adopted by the traders saved the day. The area is packed with people on weekends. After an explosion took place, the traders told the people over the public address system not to touch their cars as electronic locks could trigger off any timed device. People were asked to leave the place on foot leaving their cars behind. Minutes later another blast occurred in the area.
	Helpline New Delhi, September 13 The police on Saturday night set up a helpline to provide information about victims of a series of explosions in the national capital which claimed many lives. The number is 011-23490312. All bodies are kept at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital while over 70 injured were being treated at various hospitals including Lady Hardinge, Safdarjung, Jasaram and Gangaram, a senior police official said. — PTI