Alert after Jama Masjid blasts

      New Delhi: Key and communally sensitive cities across India continued to remain on a state of high alert on Saturday, a day after two low-intensity bomb blasts rocked Old Delhi's historic Jama Masjid, injuring 13 to 20 persons. According to Central Government sources, not only have parts of the Walled City been sanitised, but also a red alert has been announced in all communally sensitive districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Faizabad, Aligarh. District police chiefs in other parts of the state have also been asked to maintain a tight vigil and beef up security to ward off the possibility of communal tension or clashes in the wake of the blasts.

      Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V.Rajeswar has told Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to issue necessary directives to keep an eye on sensitive places and tighten security at religious places so that communal harmony was not disturbed. The governor has cancelled his visits to Meerut and Aligarh to enable security personnel to maintain peace and harmony. In the temple town of Varanasi, where the Sankat Mochan Temple and the Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station were rocked by bomb blasts on March 7 that claimed the lives of 20 people were killed, senior police officials reviewed security and also carried out similar exercises at the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and other key shrines. Patrolling has also been intensified with the deployment of additional security personnel and the bomb disposal squad at railway stations and bus stands. In Mumbai, a security ring has been put in and around the Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Prabhadevi and the Mahalaxmi Temple, besides other places of worship, including Haji Ali, Mahim Durgah and mosques, in Central Mumbai. Visitors to these shrines are being throughly searched before entry. Muslims in New Delhi offered Namaz-e-Fazar or first prayers of the day at Jama Masjid (mosque) on Saturday. Mohammed Uwais Nawaz, a local, who just returned from his religious trip the mausoleum in northwestern Ajmer city, was shocked to read newspaper headlines about the blast in their holiest mosque. He added that it was an attempt to create instability in the democratic nation. "Such incidents are condemnable and to target religious establishments is an act of barbarism to create instability in the nation," he said angrily. Dozens of Muslims joined by Hindus and Sikhs took out a protest march in Ludhiana against the blasts, saying it was not targeted at a particular community but against secularism. Activists shouted slogans against those responsible for the blasts. "The main aim of these protests is against those who want to destabilise the country and tell them that Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs are together and they cannot be divided," said Atiq Ur Rehman Ludhianvi, National Spokesperson, Majlis-E- Ahrar, a Muslim organisation. Security was also tight in Muslim dominated Hyderabad city.

     Meanwhile, Art of Living spiritual guru and founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has strongly condemned the Jama Masjid and Srinagar bomb explosions, saying the blasts were aimed at creating communal tension in the country. He appealed to the people to remain calm. On Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit visited the blast site at the Jama Masjid while Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited the hospital where at least a dozen injured have been admitted for first aid treatment. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the government would take care of the treatment of the injured.Patil described the blasts as an attempt of desperate elements to disturb peace and harmony and spread fear among the people. He expressed the Government's resolve to foil the designs of the terrorists and appeal to people to remain calm. The Jama Masjid, built in the 17th century, is situated in an old, crowded part of the city near the historic Red Fort. In October, three powerful bombs ripped through packed markets in Delhi before the festivals, killing at least 66 people and wounding more than 100.

PM visits Jama Masjid after blast

      New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today visited the historic Jama Masjid where the twin blasts took place yesterday after the Friday namaj. Accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Lt.Governor B.L.Joshi, Dr. Singh visited the site inside the Jama Masjid complex in the evening and monitored the security arrangements there. Dr.Singh also visited the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital (LNJP) to meet those injured by yesterday's blast and inquired about their condition. Staying for above 15 minutes inside the hospital, Prime Minister also had a brief talk with the doctors and met the nine year old girl child who is now recuperating and will undergo a surgery soon.

    Meanwhile, Delhi Police today apprehended four persons in connection to yesterday's blasts and have questioned them. Intelligence sources are also questioning members of Abdul Karim Tunda's gang in this connection as the Tunda and Lashkar-e-Toiba were responsible for a series of blasts in Delhi between 1996 and 1998. Joint Commissioner, Special Cell Karnail Singh said:"We are looking at various angles, including previous attacks. The probe is on". The crude bomb that was used yesterday had a low intensity blast and had a chemical composition similar to what Tunda gang members used.

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