PM directs Chidambaram, Chavan to speed up probe

NEW DELHI/PUNE: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday reviewed the situation following the Pune blast in which nine persons were killed and directed the home ministry and the Maharashtra government to take coordinated and effective action to speedily investigate the matter.

Mr Singh, who discussed the situation with home minister P Chidambaram, directed speedy investigation so that “the culprits responsible for this heinous act are identified and brought to justice at the earliest,” a PMO spokesman said.

Mr Chidambaram briefed the Prime Minister on his visit to Pune and on the state of investigations. Meanwhile, the Pune police chief Satyapal Singh said two foreigners have lost their lives in the blast. Mr Singh said all those dead in the terror attack have been identified and “out of nine, two were foreigners”.

He said that the exact time of the blast was 6:52 pm at the German Backery while adding that there was no specific intelligence input given on this terror attack.

He said the number of injured persons has increased to 60 and of these 12 are foreigners who were admitted to hospitals. Of the 12 injured foreigners, as many as five are from Iran, two each from Yemen, Sudan, Nepal and Taiwan, one from Germany, he informed.

Meanwhile, the police chief urged the media not to speak to any of the injured persons who have been admitted to various hospitals while adding that it was an official directive. He said German Bakery blast case would be solved soon. “We are 100% confident of solving the case soon. Various agencies are investigating the matter,” Mr Singh said.