Ahead of the arrival of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu on January 23 and the Republic Day, two back to back powerful explosions rocked the Transport Nagar area of Narwal in which nine civilians received splinter injuries on Saturday.
The twin blasts took place within a radius of 50 metres and in a span of 15 to 20 minutes, thereby exposing the tall claims of heightened “security bandobast” in the run up to the Republic Day celebrations. Following serial blasts, the security was beefed up in and around Jammu and additional security check points were set up for random searches.
The Congress has maintained that the Bharat Jodo Yatra will not be stopped. Rahul is scheduled to hold a public rally at Satwari in Jammu on January 23. Congress MP and AICC J&K incharge Rajani Patil condemned the twin blasts.
Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Singh rushed to the site of the blast along with other district police officers. After taking stock of the blast site, Singh told reporters, “Six people were injured in twin blasts at Narwal on Saturday. A blast occurred in a Bolero in which five people in close vicinity were injured.
“They are all stable and were shifted to hospital. The area was cleared of all the people but then a second blast occurred at a distance in which one more person was
injured. The matter is being investigated.”
Soon after the blasts were reported the entire area was cordoned off and the shops in the close vicinity of the blast site were closed down. Additional security forces and the quick reaction teams of the Indian Army were also rushed to the spot along with their dog squads to sanitise the entire area.
According to highly placed official sources the use of sticky bombs in triggering the blasts cannot be ruled out. The forensic teams have lifted the samples to determine the nature of the blasts.
According to eyewitness reports the first blast took place around 11.00 am outside the vehicle repair shop while the second blast was reported around 15 minutes later inside one of the abandoned vehicles parked in the middle of the road, 50 metres away from the site of the first blast.
Local shopkeepers alleged that a large number of abandoned vehicles remain parked in the area outside the shops of scrap dealers and the same poses a security threat.
Jammu & Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the incident and called for urgent steps to take action against those responsible.
Sinha also announced assistance of Rs 50,000 to the injured. The Lt Governor said the administration would ensure the best possible treatment and extend every help required by the families.