37 killed in blasts near Malegaon mosque
Multiple bomb blasts took place in close sequence in the communally-sensitive textile town of Malegaon, 300 km from Mumbai on Friday afternoon.
By TNN |
MUMBAI: The fragile peace in Maharashtra post 7/11 serial blasts got breached on Friday afternoon when multiple bomb blasts took place in close sequence in the communally-sensitive textile town of Malegaon, 300 km from here. According to security officials, the blasts killed at least 37 persons and left more than 100 injured. The blasts occurred at round 1.50 pm in the vicinity of a densely-populated mosque and one at the Baba Kabrastan in Malegaon.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and also appealed people to maintain calm to ensure peace and communal harmony.
Soon after the blasts, the state police put Mumbai on high alert and beefed up security at all important establishments in the city. A state-wide alert has also been sounded by the government. Deputy chief minister RR Patil, who holds the home portfolio, rushed to Malegaon from Pune. Heavy checking was resorted to at all entry and exit points. The Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the state police, senior police officials, and the Rapid Action Force rushed to Malegaon. Soon after, the police imposed curfew in the town, which has a sizeable Muslim population largely into the textile business.
Director general of Police, PS Pasricha, told media persons that the police had information about one blast only. Malegaon legislator Sheikh Rashid said there were three blasts, one of them outside Nurani Masjid, which is at the heart of the city.
Friday was an important day for the Muslim community as a large number of people had gone to the mosque on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat and later to the adjoining graveyard to offer prayers to their dead. One of the blasts took place, according to Mr Rashid, when people were returning from the mosque after offering prayers.
The injured were rushed to Wadia Hospital in Malegaon. Soon after the incident, the police force took control of the entire town to prevent further tension rising in the area always infamous for communal riots. Mobile network in the town got jammed soon after the blasts.
Meanwhile, RR Patil said the blasts were a cowardly attempt to create communal tension in the state. Mr Patil maintained that the people behind the blasts would not succeed in their designs and people of Malegaon and Maharashtra would exercise restraint just as they had done after the 7/11 blasts in Mumbai.
The police were controlling the situation and maintaining law and order in the state, he added.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and also appealed people to maintain calm to ensure peace and communal harmony.
Soon after the blasts, the state police put Mumbai on high alert and beefed up security at all important establishments in the city. A state-wide alert has also been sounded by the government. Deputy chief minister RR Patil, who holds the home portfolio, rushed to Malegaon from Pune. Heavy checking was resorted to at all entry and exit points. The Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the state police, senior police officials, and the Rapid Action Force rushed to Malegaon. Soon after, the police imposed curfew in the town, which has a sizeable Muslim population largely into the textile business.
Director general of Police, PS Pasricha, told media persons that the police had information about one blast only. Malegaon legislator Sheikh Rashid said there were three blasts, one of them outside Nurani Masjid, which is at the heart of the city.
Friday was an important day for the Muslim community as a large number of people had gone to the mosque on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat and later to the adjoining graveyard to offer prayers to their dead. One of the blasts took place, according to Mr Rashid, when people were returning from the mosque after offering prayers.
The injured were rushed to Wadia Hospital in Malegaon. Soon after the incident, the police force took control of the entire town to prevent further tension rising in the area always infamous for communal riots. Mobile network in the town got jammed soon after the blasts.
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Meanwhile, RR Patil said the blasts were a cowardly attempt to create communal tension in the state. Mr Patil maintained that the people behind the blasts would not succeed in their designs and people of Malegaon and Maharashtra would exercise restraint just as they had done after the 7/11 blasts in Mumbai.
The police were controlling the situation and maintaining law and order in the state, he added.
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