M A I N   N E W S

‘Modi had forewarned Centre’
Faraz Ahmad
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, September 13
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had forewarned the Central Government about possible bomb blasts in Delhi.

Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani made this revelation here today at the BJP’s first Vijay Sankalp rally as part of the three-day national executive meeting currently being held here.

Advani said, “After the recent bomb blasts in Ahmedabad, Narendrabhai was personally monitoring the investigations and interrogation of the accused. During these interrogations, the accused had disclosed that their next target was Delhi. They did not know the time and venue of the next terrorist strike but they knew that terrorists would strike in Delhi.

“When Narendrabhai went to Delhi late last month to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, he had disclosed this information to both of them separately,” Advani said and added, NSA M.K. Narayanan was also told about this.”

He said every time they blamed it on intelligence failure. But this time they cannot even hide behind this excuse because all of them knew about it.

Modi, who spoke to newsmen separately after the public meeting, repeated what Advani said in the meeting.

Modi had gone to Delhi on August 30 and met the Prime Minister and Home minister and the NSA was also present with the Prime Minister when Modi was in the South Block.

He was pleading for central clearance to GUJCOCA, which has been pending for Presidential ascent for several years now.

Modi is reported to have shared “specific” leads on terror threats that have emerged from the interrogation of Simi leaders arrested by the Gujarat police for the Ahmedabad blasts as well as for planting bombs in Surat, according to BJP sources. The leads, they said, related to future targets being eyed by the terror outfits.

Shortage of intelligence officers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 13
Two issues that the security agencies are battling with are demand for a federal investigating agency and to recruit more intelligence gathering officers. In the hallowed corridors of power in the North Block, these issues have been lingering on for a long time now.

Investigators want a federal investigating agency to probe and tackle cases of terrorism. The ministry of home affairs has adopted a soft approach and asked the states to give their views through a questionnaire last month.

Mistakes are being repeated. Intelligence gathering was a low priority subject while the beat constable system has collapsed, the MHA officials have been pointing out to the state officials. The blasts are occurring as modules of terrorists are active in cities across the country.

Sources said the federal agency need not be body that works from the national capital alone. It could have nodes in all major cities and draw manpower from state police forces.

BJP: War against country

New Delhi: The BJP today said the serial blasts in Delhi was a “war” against the country and demanded revival of tough anti-terror law POTA. Describing the blasts as a “cowardly act”, senior BJP leader V.K. Malhotra said “it is like a war has been waged against the country. There were many warnings but the government ignored them”. — PTI

Condemnable: Pak

Islamabad: Pakistan strongly condemned the serial blasts in Delhi, terming those responsible as “enemies of humanity”. In separate messages, President Asif Ali Zardari and Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed shock and grief over the loss of precious human lives. — PTI

Region on high alert
Tribune News Service & PTI

Chandigarh, September 13
Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh were put on maximum alert in the wake of multiple explosions that rocked Delhi this evening.

Police sources said checking of vehicles had begun in Gurgaon, Faridabad and other Haryana towns bordering Delhi.

Security has been beefed up at key public places including inter-state bus terminuses, railway stations and other sensitive places in the two states and Chandigarh, official sources said. Punjab is also on full alert and security has been tightened in the state.

A statement issued by the ADGP (law and order), Haryana, Dr VN Rai, cautioned the public against touching any unclaimed or suspicious-looking objects and appealed to them to report all such matters to the nearest police station. The police in Punjab issued a similar statement. The Uttar Pradesh government also issued a high alert throughout the state following serial blasts in Delhi.

Blast from the past

New Delhi, September 13
October 29, 2005: 50 persons were killed and 70 injured, including some foreigners, in three explosions in two busy markets in Delhi.

May 22, 2005: One person killed in serial blasts in two cinema halls in Delhi.

December 30, 1997: Four commuters killed and about 30 injured in a bomb explosion in a bus near Punjabi Bagh.

November 30, 1997: Twin blasts in Red Fort area leaves three killed and 70 injured.

October 26, 1997: Twin bomb blasts in Karol Bagh market leaves one dead and 34 injured.

October 18, 1997: One killed, 23 hurt in twin bomb blasts in Rani Bagh market.

October 10, 1997: One killed, 16 injured in three bomb blasts at Shantivan, Kauria Pul and Kingsway Camp areas.

October 1, 1997: Thirty injured in two bomb explosions near a procession in the Sadar Bazar area. — PTI