UP minister hurt in blast near home, SP supporters arrested

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh’s minister for institutional finance Nand Gopal Gupta “Nandi” was on Monday injured in a bomb blast outside his residence in Allahabad. The police have detained five supporters of a rival SP leader in connection with the case.

The incident took place at around 11 am when Mr Gupta was going to a temple about 60 metres from his residence. As he moved towards the temple, the explosion took place in a moped in which the bomb was apparently planted, Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Brijlal said.

Police officials said the minister’s personal security officer Sanjay, who accompanied Mr Gupta, was also injured in the blast. Mr Brijlal said that no firing took place during the attack and that the police was trying to establish the motive behind it. “We cannot say at the moment that the minister was the target. It is a serious issue and is under investigation,” he said.

Police officials said five persons were picked up from the house of Dilip Mishra, a local SP leader. In Lucknow, chief minister Mayawati convened a meeting of senior officials to take stock of the situation.

While condemning the bomb attack, Opposition parties alleged that it showed state government’s failure to tackle the law and order situation. “Things are going from bad to worse in Uttar Pradesh,” said Mr Amar Singh.

“Today’s incident has proved that no one is safe in Uttar Pradesh,” BJP spokesman and vice president of the state unit Hriday Narain Dixit said. “After this incident, people are doubting as to how the government which cannot provide proper security to its ministers can be entrusted with the responsibility of doing the same for the common people,” the BJP leader said.

Speaking in the same vein, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that “even ministers are not safe under the BSP government what to say of the common people.”