M A I N   N E W S

4 low-intensity blasts hit Pune; cops scan CCTV for clues
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, August 1
At least two persons were injured after four explosive devices went off on the busy Jangli Maharaj Road in Pune this evening. A fifth device was defused by the bomb disposal squad of the local police before it could go off, state police said.

According to the police, the explosions occurred between 7.37 pm and 8.10 pm when people thronged the busy road for Raksha Bandhan shopping. The first blast took place outside the Balgandharva auditorium, venue for plays.

Subsequent explosions were reported from opposite a McDonald’s outlet and outside the local branch of Dena Bank and a crossroad known as Garware Chowk. The explosive devices were planted on bicycles along the one-kilometre stretch, police said. One bomb went off in a dustbin.

Police said late at night that they were scanning footage from a CCTV camera.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was to reach Pune for

a late night function, cancelled his plans at the last minute after he assumed charge of the Ministry.

Even as news of the blasts came in, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan convened an emergency meeting with senior officials to oversee security in Mumbai.

Police teams are said to be probing the blasts.