Varanasi: A girl child was killed and more than 20 people, including a few foreigners, were injured when a bomb exploded on the banks of the Ganga during Tuesday evening’s ‘maha aarti’ watched by hundreds and sparked off a stampede, authorities and witnesses said. The Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the incident, saying it was in retaliation for the Babri verdict.

Swastika Sharma succumbed to multiple splinter injuries and was declared dead by doctors following the deafening blast on the cemented steps leading to the holy river at the crowded Dashashwamedh Ghat between 6.15 and 6.30 p.m.

A doctor said the girl was two years old. As security forces went on high alert all across the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh denounced the bombing and appealed for peace and calm. The Bharatiya Janata Party also condemned the terror attack.

Police officials said an explosive device had apparently been concealed in a crevice on the steps where hundreds of men and women were seated. As several people fell down bleeding and injured, others desperately tried to escape, triggering a stampede that injured more people.

“It was such a powerful blast that we did not even know what had happened,” said Aveek Kumar Jain, who was at the ghat. “Nobody knew what had happened, whether it was a gas cylinder or a bomb.” Jain said he saw one foreigner injured in the leg.

A man who suffered head wounds told reporters in the hospital that a nearby wall collapsed because of the impact of the blast. “I was telling my wife to see the river when this massive blast took place,” he said. Home Secretary G.K. Pillai in New Delhi initially called it a “low intensity blast”, but in no time Uttar Pradesh Police officers classified it as a “medium intensity” explosion.

Pillai said the explosion injured four to five people and the “small stampede” that followed left another 15-20 people injured. “It is too early to say what caused the explosion. We have issued a general alert to all states and told them to be on high alert,” he said.

Blood was splattered at the site of the blast. Devotees fled from there, leaving behind their belongings. Women wailed in pain and panic, and police officers who rushed to the site desperately tried to bring calm. Policemen and civilians rushed the injured to the nearest government hospital.

Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Home) U.K. Bansal said that “one or two foreigners” were among the injured. Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal said they would “work out the case” soon. “The blast took place when hundreds of people had gathered at the Shitla ghat,” he said.

“It will be premature to make any comment on the nature of the blast. The blast was big enough to cause damage as well as panic and commotion in the entire area,” he said. Varanasi, about 300 km from Lucknow, is one of the holiest Hindu sites. Twin blasts in the city March 7, 2006 killed 20 people and injured around 100. Tuesday’s blast took place a day after the 18th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya.

Indian Mujahideen e-mail sent from Malad

An e-mail sent by banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen to several media houses claiming responsibility for the Varanasi blast today was sent from Malad in Mumbai.

The Internet Protocol address of the five-page e-mail signed by ‘Al-Arbi’ was located to Malad in the suburbs of Mumbai and police teams were immediately rushed to the area, official sources said. Terrorists of Indian Mujahideen have been using unsecured WiFi connections for sending mails to media houses within minutes of the blasts.

Varanasi explosion: MHA issues nationwide alert

The Union Home Ministry has sounded a nationwide alert with special stress on four major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad – in wake of the blast in Varanasi. “A general alert has been sent to all state governments and they have been asked to stay on high alert,”Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said in New Delhi.

“It was low intensity blast which occurred at about 6.20 pm in which three-four people were injured. Subsequently we understand there could have been a stampede…as a result 15-20 people were injured. So roughly 20-25 people injured,”he said.

According to Home Ministry sources, alerts have been issued to the four metropolis in particular. They said a high-level team of the National Investigation Agency is also likely to visit the holy town. Secretary for Internal Security at MHA, U K Bansal said, “We had alerted Uttar Pradesh Police sometime back. I am sure the UP police will take it as a challenge. There is no reason for panic.”

Source: MSN.in

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