A series of low-intensity explosions rocked BJP’s Hunkar Rally in Patna on Sunday claiming five lives and leaving 70 injured. While five bombs went off at the rally venue, one blast had taken place at the Patna Railway Station earlier, taking the number of blasts to six.
The five blasts took place in quick succession just an hour before BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was to began his speech.Plumes of smoke billowed from a couple of sites even as senior BJP leaders, including Sushil Modi, addressed the crowd. However, despite the panic and chaos, the crowd remained under control and largely intact and foiled the designs of the conspirators to cause major damage.
Bihar Director-General of Police, Abhayanand told media persons that IEDs were used in the bombs.“They were all low intensity IEDs fitted with timers and wires,” he said.
He also said that the first blast happened at Patna railway platform No 10 at 9:30 am, the second blast was at 11:40 am at Gandhi Maidan close to the Udyog Bhawan, the third took place at 12:05 pm at Gandhi Maidan close to Regent cinema hall, the fourth at 12:10 pm was in the direction of the Twin Towers, the fifth blast at Gandhi Maidan happened at 12:20 pm near State Bank of India building whereas the sixth bomb went off at 12:45 pm near the Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan.
He identified three of the five killed in the bomb blasts as Ram Narain Singh of Gaurichak of Patna, Vikas of Kaimur and Munna Srivastva of Gopalgunj. Two of those killed are yet to be identified.
“Some of the bombs found near the Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan were defused by the police,” he added.The first blast took place near a toilet at the Patna Railway Station at 9.30 am in which one person was injured. Police immediately reached the station and evacuated it. They defused two more bombs from the spot and took the injured man to hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
Two hours later when a massive crowd surged towards Patna’s Gandhi Maidan to attend the rally, another bomb exploded on the far eastern end of the ground. Within ten minutes, four more blasts took place at the rally ground. However, police swung into action and was able to defused some more bombs from the venue. A policeman was injured while defusing a bomb at the Gandhi Maidan.
The incident sent shockwaves in the State and thousands of people returned midway without attending the rally. The retreating crowd attacked a police van parked outside the police line. They also shouted anti-Nitish Kumar slogans.
State BJP leaders used their presence of mind and averted a stampede by downplaying the incident and telling the people gathered at the maidan that it could be a tyre burst or fireworks.
“Altogether five people were killed and over 70 injured in the blasts. All the injured were admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital,” said PMCH superintendent, Amarkant Jha. After the rally, BJP leaders made beeline to the hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured.
One person was detained at the rally ground while four others were arrested by the Patna Police from elsewhere in Patna. Police sources said Indian Mujahideen might be behind the blasts.
“I’ll not disclose the name of those arrested at the moment as it will hamper the investigation,” said SSP Manu Maharaj.Patna Police later declared Gandhi Maidan a “prohibited zone” and searched for more bombs. Patna was also put on alert and police asked people not to touch unclaimed objects.
Taking a serious note of the blasts Bihar Chief Minister condemned the incident and said police will do its best to get to the bottom of the incident.Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report on the blasts from the State Government and rushed a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team to Patna.
Sources at police headquarters said that one of the four persons arrested in the case has admitted to his role in the blasts. later, State BJP leaders like Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Ashwani Choubey and others requested the State Government to put in all its resources to probe the incident.
While leaving the rally venue, even Narendra Modi had appealed to the rally goers to be careful on their way back home.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later spoke to Nitish Kumar to enquire about the situation and sought immediate and prompt action. He also assured Nitish Kumar for all possible help from the Centre to investigate the bomb blasts.Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, cancelled his trip to Munger where he was to attend aworld yoga meet on Sunday.