At least five people were killed and 34 others were injured Monday night in a bomb blast at a market in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar city.
The explosion occurred around 9.00 p.m.
The bomb was planted on a motorcycle outside a CD shop next to the Nishtarabad road, Xinhua reported citing Geo TV.
The blast damaged about 20 shops.
The injured were shifted to the city's Lady Reading Hospital. Five of the injured were in critical condition.
Police said about 10 kg of explosives were used in the explosion.
President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the attack.
Earlier Monday, eight people, including six policemen, were killed in a suicide car bomb attack outside a senior police officer's house in the southern port city of Karachi.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (IANS)
2007/9/7 1:07:32 The former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Nedurumilli Janardhan Reddy and his wife Rajyalakshmi had a miraculous escape this morning. They were traveling in a convoy of 15 cars from Nellore and were on their way to Tirupathi. The blast occurred near Nellore at about 7.00 am this morning.
The blast is suspected to be the work of Maoists. The car was completely blown away to pieces. Two youth congress leaders and the car driver were killed in the blast. The blast was so powerful that the mutilated body parts of the deceased were blown away to as far as three kms. Over 15 persons were injured in the blast.
2011/11/30 8:38:48 (IANS) An explosion just outside a festival venue in this Manipur capital Wednesday killed one person, suspected to be a separatist bomber, officials said.
A police spokesperson said the bomb exploded near the entry gate of the ongoing Sangai Festival around 11 a.m.
"We suspect the person who died is the one who carried the bomb concealed in a sack to plant at the festival venue," a police official said requesting not to be named.
The bomber was apparently riding a cycle rickshaw when the blast took place.
"Today was the concluding day of the festival and there were no people around when the blast occurred and hence there no other casualties," the official said.
Police are yet to identify the bomber.
The blast comes ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's daylong visit to Imphal Dec 3 when he is scheduled to launch and inaugurate several development projects. The prime minister is also expected to address a public meeting.
There are over 20 militant groups active in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.
2011/11/30 8:38:48 (IANS) An explosion just outside a festival venue in this Manipur capital Wednesday killed one person, suspected to be a separatist bomber, officials said.
A police spokesperson said the bomb exploded near the entry gate of the ongoing Sangai Festival around 11 a.m.
"We suspect the person who died is the one who carried the bomb concealed in a sack to plant at the festival venue," a police official said requesting not to be named.
The bomber was apparently riding a cycle rickshaw when the blast took place.
"Today was the concluding day of the festival and there were no people around when the blast occurred and hence there no other casualties," the official said.
Police are yet to identify the bomber.
The blast comes ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's daylong visit to Imphal Dec 3 when he is scheduled to launch and inaugurate several development projects. The prime minister is also expected to address a public meeting.
There are over 20 militant groups active in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.
Delhi blast: Two Kashmiri men detained in Rajasthan (Lead)
2011/9/10 2:12:53 Jaipur, Sep 10 (IANS) Two men from Jammu and Kashmir were detained in Rajasthan on the basis of their resemblance to the sketches of suspects released in connection with the Delhi High Court blast, police here said Saturday.
The two were detained Friday in Alwar district. They belong to Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police officer said.
The duo was searching for an accommodation in the inns of Kishangarh Bas area of Alwar, some 140 km from this state capital city.
"They were behaving in a very suspicious manner. A police team spotted them and found them resembling with the sketches," the officer told IANS on condition of anonymity.
The police quizzed the duo throughout the night in relation to Wednesday's blast outside Gate 5 of the Delhi High Court complex, that has claimed 13 lives and left around 90 injured.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the blast, is rushing a team to Alwar to take their custody, the officer added.
The Jaipur-Delhi National Highway passing through Alwar is on high alert.
Three people arrested in Jammu and Kashmir for the Sep 7 Delhi High Court blast were brought here Wednesday by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, police said.
Shariq Ahmed, Abid Hussain and Amir Abbas Dev were brought here on transit remand by the NIA team led by Deputy Inspector General Mukesh Singh.
The accused are expected to be presented in the Patiala House district courts, where the NIA is likely seek their remand for further probe.
Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel also accompanied the three accused.
At least 15 people were killed in the blast.
Dev, arrested by NIA Sep 16, was remanded in police custody for seven days, while Ahmed and Hussain were arrested Sep 13 and were sent to police custody for 10 days.
The accused have been booked under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race or language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 134-A (attack on government servant on duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
The NIA has announced a reward of Rs.10 lakh for anybody giving information about the perpetrators of the blast. (IANS)
Sender of e-mail from Kashmir detained: Chidambaram
2011/9/9 3:37:13 ew Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday said investigators have taken into custody the person suspected to have sent the e-mail from Jammu and Kashmir owning the responsibility for the Delhi High Court blast two days ago.
"The person has been taken into custody for interrogation," Chidambaram told reporters here.
Wednesday's blast outside the court killed 13 and injured over 90 people.
Hyderabad is now slowly coming back to normal. The people are a bit more cautious but are going on with life a usual.
The true Hyderabadi spirit was revealed when immediately after the blast, people did not run away from the blast scene but actually rushed in to attend on the injured.
The people voluntarily came out to help the injured and put them in autos and buses and took them to the e nearest hospitals. Thus many lives were saved as timely medical was provided.
The bomb blast that takes place out side the Delhi High Court gate around 10.20am today, claims 10 lives and 65 seriously injured. Out of 65 injured 45 persons’ condition is said to be very critical, thus fearing further increase in the death toll in this incident. Many of the victims were Lawyers. Terrorist gang Tehrik-e-Elam has claims the responsibility for the explosion describing it as their part of Jihad. All the victims were rushed to AIIMS, Ram Manoharia and Safdar Jung Hospitals.
According to primary reports, the police control room received a phone call from the court at about 10.15 am requesting help. The blast took place just before the court opened for hearings. Court business is usually heavy on Wednesday which is listed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) day when the visitors come to the court in large numbers. Gate no 5 is also the entrance closest to the parking area. The explosives were placed in a briefcase at the high court reception where hundreds of people come through every day to attend court cases.
The blast was the second explosion at the high court this year. On May 25, a small explosion that appeared to be a failed car bomb hit the court parking lot.
A high alert in the capital has been sounded and security tightens at public places.
The low-intensity blast at a private hospital here Saturday evening was triggered by a mixture normally used in firecrackers, along with a crude Improvised Explosive Device (IED), police said Sunday. However, the motive behind the attack, which injured at least four people, is yet unclear.
"Investigations reveal potassium chlorate, charcoal and sulphur, whose mixture is normally used in crackers, were used as the explosive. Cylindrical iron rods were used as the container for the explosive, that was tied with the crude IED," Special Director General of Police Brij Lal told reporters.
"With the nature of injuries caused, it appears the entire set-up was locally prepared. Six batteries of nine volt each were used. They were connected in series with some filament placed in the explosive. The blast took place due to the heating effect in the filament. We have found no traces of a timer in the blast," he added.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Agra) Asim Arun told IANS: "We are yet to establish the motive behind the blast."
However, an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer at the blast site said it was "highly unlikely" that the blast had any terror link.
"I am of this view for the two reasons. First, no iron nails or glass pieces -- normally mixed by the terrorists with the explosive for enhancing the blast's impact -- were used. Secondly, the blast took place at a private area, and not a crowded public place," the officer told IANS, preferring anonymity.
According to police sources, the state police in their report sent to the union home ministry late Saturday said they were trying to ascertain whether the blast was a terror strike or due to some business rivalry, as there were a number of private hospitals near Jai Hospital, where the blast took place.
Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Swami Prasad Maurya and union Minister of State for Home Bhanwar Jitendra Singh inspected the blast site Sunday.
"A compensation of Rs.50,000 will be provided to all the injured from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund," Singh told reporters.
Maurya added: "Chief Minister Mayawati has declared a compensation of Rs.1 lakh per injured. She has given special instructions to take stern action against all those behind the blast."
Asked whether the blast had any terror angle, Singh replied: "Prima facie, it is low intensity blast involving a crude bomb...It's difficult to say anything with confirmation in this regard till we get all the reports of the investigating agencies."
"Our prime minister and home minister want an extensive probe into the case. It should also be investigated whether the Agra blast could be linked with other blasts," Singh said.
Uttar Pradesh Police also announced a reward of Rs.50,000 for any information on those involved in the blast.
A.K. Mishra, the Hari Parwat police station chief, told IANS: "No one has been detained in connection with the blast."
"Two of the four injured have been discharged from hospital," he added.
The explosion took place around 5.30 p.m. at the reception area of Jai Hospital, situated on a service lane of National Highway-2, barely 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal, a declared terror target which is frequented by thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every day.
Security at the 17th century Taj Mahal and other places has been beefed up.
In New Delhi, union Home Secretary Raj Kumar Singh Saturday said reports indicated wires and battery parts were found at the blast spot. (IANS)
2007/8/25 13:03:32 The bomb that exploded at Gokul chat bhandar at Koti in Hyderabad caused the maximum number of deaths. The death toll at Koti is now put at 30 and many more are in a critical state at various hospitals in the city.
The police have found that the bomb was place in an ice cream machine. The machine is at a height of five feet above ground level and therefore the impact of the bomb blast was higher.
At the Lumbini Park, the bomb was kept in under the seats at the Laser show. A big crowd gathers fro the laser show and as such, the death toll was also high here. Many students from Maharashtra who came to Hyderabad on an excursion are reported to have died in the bomb blast
City based CFSL part of teams probing Mumbai blasts
2011/7/14 3:53:47 Four teams of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), two each from Hyderabad and New Delhi, are conducting investigations serial blasts which rocked the city of Mumbai on Wednesday evening.
The CFSL teams were dispatched to the terror hit city by the Union Home Ministry and they took up investigations within hours of the blasts and continued throughout the night.
The investigation is being conducted by the Maharashtra ATS and the Crime Branch, Mumbai Police, assisted by the National Investigation Agency, the post-blast investigation unit of the NSG and teams from the Central Forensic Science Laboratories.
The National Investigation Agency has three teams lead by an IG assisting the investigations. The DG, NIA is in Mumbai and is overseeing the investigations.
The Central Forensic Science Laboratory teams have visited the scene of crime and are assisting the investigators. One post-blast investigating team of NSG has also reached Mumbai late last night and has been helping in the investigation.
According to the Union Home Ministry, preliminary investigations indicate the use of IEDs with Ammonium Nitrate based explosives.
The Home Ministry said that the “IEDs used in the blasts are not crude, but indicate some level of sophistication.”
According to the Union Home Ministry, in Kabutarkhana Dadar West – the IED was reportedly placed on top of a bus shelter. This was a low intensity blast which injured 10 persons. The IED at Opera House was planted below a loose slab and concealed under garbage. There was Thela (food cart) on top.
This blast was strong and resulted in 11 dead and 73 injured. In Zaveri Bazaar the explosive was near a motorcycle concealed under an umbrella. In this blast 6 people died and 50 were injured.
Out of the 131 people admitted to various hospitals, 26 had been discharged, 82 are stable and 23 are serious.
The Union Home Ministry said that “17 people are confirmed dead. This figure may go up marginally pending confirmation. The developments are being monitored continuously.” (INN)
Government needs to pull up its socks: John Abraham
2011/9/10 8:31:32
New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) In the wake of the Delhi High Court blast, Bollywood actor John Abraham feels the government needs to pull up its socks and find a solution for terrorism. He has also urged the people to be active and vigilant at such times.
"If you look at what happened in Delhi and what happened in Mumbai sometime back - I hope the government is doing what they can and they should in such times," said John who featured in 2009 film "New York" which was about post-9/11 prejudices in the US.
"Our government needs to pull up their socks. But people of India and also the government should understand it is not a joke, it is a very serious issue. We as individuals have to be very vigilant," he told reporters here.
The 38-year-old actor also feels it's high time for the government to take a stand as the Wednesday blast killed 13 people and injured over 90.
"After the 9/11 incident, not a single blast has taken place in America. The level of security that they have now is remarkable. Probably natural calamities like hurricanes have hit them but nothing destructive from the terrorism point of view.
"The same way our government and our people need to put across the point very clearly and take a stand - that we won't take any nonsense like this again," John said.
"The person who suffers is the only one who feels the misery of such incidents. But if you look around, people today have become insensitive in a way," he said.
2007/11/27 3:55:20 The court on Tuesday awarded a seven-year hail term on Moddu Seenu in connection with the Chandanagar bomb blast case. Seenu is one of the min accused in the Paritala Ravi murder case. The sentence has been awarded in the bomb blast incident at Chandanagar in Hyderabad. The police were on the lookout for Seenu after the murder of Paritala Ravi when he was caught in strange circumstances.
Moddu Seenu was making a bomb at a lodge but the bomb exploded in his hands and he was injured. He was hatching a plan to kill a lawyer. The police and the media later recognized him as Moddu Seenu at the hospital and he was arrested.
2011/9/6 22:00:49 An explosion was heard in the parking lot of the Delhi High Court Wednesday afternoon. The Delhi Police said it was a radiator blast, but the fire department said the explosion was caused by a crude bomb. No casualties have been reported so far.
A silver Ford Figo in the parking lot near gate number seven of the court complex has been damaged.
According to the Delhi Police, the car's radiator exploded.
"Our teams are at the spot and we are awaiting further details," a police officer said.
"We received a call around 11.20 a.m. about a blast in the car. Seven fire engines were rushed and fire has been doused," added a fire officer.
"The bomb was under the car. Initially it looks to be desi (locally assembled) bomb and police is investigating the matter," he said.
The car belonged to lawyer Rajat Jain.
An eyewitness Sanjay Bhatt said: "There was a sudden blast in the parking lot. We rushed to the spot and found a black bag burning besides a car."
Parking attendant Dharamvir said: "We rushed to the court canteen and brought buckets of water to douse the fire."
Bomb squad personnel have rushed to the spot. Eyewitnesses said shrapnel had been found at the spot.
Tollywood beauty Samantha, who was in Turkey for shooting of her latest film Dhookudu with Prince Maheshbabu, had a narrow escape from a street side explosion. During the day brake she along with her make up man and hair stylist went for shopping Taksim Square in Istanbul. While, she was there a bomb was exploded on the other side of the road in which more than 26 people were severely injured. Samantha and her assistants fortunately escaped unhurt in this incident. Samantha Twitted that, “I had the day off yesterday and went to Taksim with my make up artist and hair stylist. We were on the opposite side of the road from the bomb blast.”
Later she twitted that, “everything is ok now…gotten over the shock. so it felt so unreal like I was in a movie..Feel really sad for the innocent ppl who were affected.”
Mecca Masjid blast accused sent to Chanchalguda Jail
2012/1/18 14:32:16 A city court on Wednesday remanded Bharat Bai, the accused in Mecca Masjid blasts case, to judicial remand till February 3.
The court gave these directions when the sleuths of National Investigating Agency produced him before the court. Following court's directions, the officials shifted him to the Chanchalguda Central Jail.
The NIA officials claim that they have evidence to show that Bharat Bai has raised money to execute the blasts. The investigators pointed out that similar money transactions were done for the bomb blasts at Dargah Ajmer Shareef, Malegaon and Samjhauta Express.
The NIA officials brought Bharat Bai from Rajasthan state on a PT warrant in connection with the Mecca Masjid blasts. The NIA, which is investigating the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, is currently probing the money trail that led to the execution of these attacks. (INN)
The Pakistan based terror gang HUJI has demanded the Indian Government to withdraw its decision to give death punishment to Afjal Guru, who is now counting his days in Tihar jail. Otherwise, it threatens to target High Courts and Supreme Court in its next round of attacks.
Delhi blast: Investigators still grappling for clues
2011/9/8 5:35:59 New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) Investigators probing the Delhi High Court bombing were Thursday grappling for clues to identify the perpetrators, a day after a powerful explosion outside the complex killed 12 people.
"Investigation teams of the NIA (National Investigation Agency) are vigorously pursuing various leads with the cooperation of Delhi Police," U.K. Bansal, secretary (internal security) in the home ministry, told reporters.
He said forensic experts summoned from Gujarat and Hyderabad to assist in the investigation again scanned the scene of the crime Thursday.
"They have found some more material which may have relevance to the investigation," Bansal said, indicating that there was no concrete evidence related to the explosives used in the bomb.
He, however, said traces of a mixture of nitrate and PETN, (pentaerythritol trinitrate), have been found but that was not conlcusive.
"We will let you know about the forenic report when it comes," he said.
The NIA has also detained some suspects related to the bombing, including three in Jammu and Kashmir.
Those detained include two owners of a cyber cafe in Kishtwar district of the state who were questioned about the person who had sent an email claiming responsibility for the blast.
The email, attributed to the Harkat-ul Jehadi Islami, was found to have been been sent from Global Internet Cafe at Malik Market in Kishtwar, once a militancy hub in Jammu region.
On questioning the owners of the cafe, investigators garnered some information about how the sender of the email looked.
"We have got some details about the physical features of the person. Police parties have been deputed to trace him," a senior police officer working on the investigations told IANS.
Bansal also said that "some information pointing to a Kashmir connection with the email received" was being pursued with the help of the Kashmir police.
The email theory got a new twist on the day after the blast as another email attributed to the 'Indian Muzahiddin' claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Written in Hindi, it said the outfit had timed the blast on the day when the crowd outside the court was huge.
"We have done it," it said and threatened to carry out another blast at a shopping mall in Delhi next Tuesday.
The email remains unverified, even as Bansal said it was being studied by the intelligence agencies.
Meanwhile, teams of anti-terrorism squads from the neighbouring states have also reached Delhi "for discussions and consultations with NIA and Delhi Police in connection with the investigation", said Bansal.
Struggling for any concrete clue, the NIA also announced a reward of Rs.500,000 for anyone providing clues about the suspects.
"The NIA has announced a reward of Rs.5 lakh for anyone giving any information to follow up the case. As far as investigation is concerned, it is going on. Delhi Police and NIA are coordinating," Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters.
Police also junked the theory that a missing car may hold a clue to solving the blast puzzle after the vehicle was found in Faridabad, on the outskirts of the capital.
The car -- a silver Santro with registration number DL9CA 6034) -- was seen by eyewitnesses near the blast site just before the explosion.
The car, owned by National Insurance Company employee Inshu Minocha, was stolen in 2009.
"The car has nothing to do with the bomb blast," said a police officer.
The NIA also detained a suspect from Uttar Pradesh. He was identified with his first name Shehzad only. Source said he resembled with the sketch of the suspects prepared by police.
The agency also ruled out the possibility that the attackers may have been among the 12 people who died in the blast, after all the victims were identified.
It has also carried out background checks on the over 91 injured and confirmed that none were suspects.
(IANS) Separatists Friday blew up a major installation of India's premier oil exploration firm Oil India Limited (OIL) in Assam, triggering a massive fire leaping up to more than 100 metres.
The blast took place at the oil collection station (OCS) at Tipling, close to the OIL headquarters at Duliajan in Dibrugarh district, about 550 km east of Guwahati, officials said.
The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
"We claim responsibility for the explosion. The attack is part of our campaign to strike at vital installations as we believe the Indian government is exploiting our natural resources," a rebel statement received by IANS read.
Witnesses and OIL officials said the fire was visible from a distance of about five km and was leaping up to 100 metres.
"More than 15 fire tenders were trying to douse the flames," an OIL official said.
There were no immediate reports of any casualties.
"We can estimate the extent of damage only after the fire is doused. Also we don't know the reason for the fire yet," the OIL official said.
2011/9/25 23:00:07 Pakistan Railways has decided to lease 50 railway engines from India to restart some defunct services, a media report said Sunday.
The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour in Peshawar earlier this week, the Urdu daily Jang reported.
The option of leasing the engines was among the options, and found favour as India had already expressed its willingness to consider the lease of the engines.
Addressing the meet, Bilour said the railways needs 200 to 300 locomotives to improve its performance.
He said some financial assistance is likely to be received soon, and this money would be used to buy new locomotives as well as for repairing existing ones. (IANS)
Pakistan Railways has decided to lease 50 railway engines from India to restart some defunct services, a media report said Sunday.
