PM condemns Chennai bomb blasts; 1 dead, 14 injured in suspected terror attack
Chennai: Two minor-intensity bomb blasts rocked the Guwahati-Bangalore Express at the Central Railway station on Thursday claiming a woman's life and leaving 14 others injured, as police detained a suspect in this connection.
A 22-year-old woman passenger, identified as TCS employee Swathi, bound for Guntur via Vijaywada, was killed in the explosions that occurred in the S4 and S5 coaches in quick succession.
The injured, including two grievously hurt, have been rushed to the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, where doctors said the injured were "out of danger".
The train arrived from Bangalore for a ten-minute halt at the Central Railway station, the major railway hub in this metropolis, at about 7.05 AM, and the explosions occurred in the coaches at about 7.15 AM. As panic-stricken passengers rushed out of the train in platform No 9 and also others in the neighbouring platform, police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the entire area.
Police said a suspect has been detained in connection with the explosions and he was being questioned. However, initial investigations have suggested they were improvised explosive device (IED) blasts.
The Bangalore-Guwahati Express left on its onward journey after railway authorities replaced three damaged coaches. The train departed at 12.15 pm after police who undertook extensive searches cleared it, Railway authorities told PTI.
The railways replaced S3, S4 and S5 coaches, which had suffered damages following the blasts caused by low intensity bombs. Some of the passengers were complaining that their belongings have been stolen after they left the train after the explosions.
Tamil Nadu DGP K Ramanujam said a special investigation team would investigate the blasts and added that Chennai was not the target. "It is not a major blast. It is suspected that Chennai could not have been target of those who were behind the blast because the train was running late. Some other location could have been the target", Ramanujam said.
According to reports, the train arrived in Chennai approximately 1 hour 25 minutes late, so the questions are being raised whether Chennai was actually the target. Had the train been on time, the explosion could have taken place near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, where Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally today.
He said police had no immediate information on who was responsible for the explosion. "It is premature to say what kind of device was used in the blast. Damage to the train is not heavy," he said.
Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Mishra described it as a "minor blast".
Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said an expert from New Delhi will visit Chennai to find out the cause behind the blasts. "One of the experts from New Delhi will visit Chennai and will find out the reasons. Our people are taking quick action and also providing relief works," Kharge told reporters on Thursday.
"Investigation is going on and both the railway board and Tamil Nadu Police are cooperating with each other. When we get the detailed report, we will be able to know the cause of the incident," he said.
Commissioner Railway Safety (southern circle) S K Mittal will conduct an inquiry into the incident, Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena said.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is in Himachal Pradesh for campaigning for Congress candidates, said, "I have directed my officials to provide all assistance to the state government".
Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami said, "We are in touch with the Tamil Nadu government and have sought a report on the incident".
Asked whether the blast can be termed as a terror attack, Goswami said it was too early to arrive at any conclusion. "We are still waiting for the details," he said. Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said, "It seems the blast took place under a berth".
A team of National Security Guard and explosive experts is likely to be sent to Chennai to join in the investigation into the blast. NIA team from Hyderabad is being rushed to the blast site, official sources said.
Condemning the blasts, DMK MP T K S Elangovan said, "This will create fear in the minds of the passengers... so it is on police to take precautionary steps and see such things don't happen in the future".
Meanwhile, security at the railway station, where thousands of people arrive and depart daily, has been further stepped up and all inbound and out-bound trains were being subjected to extensive check. Baggage screening procedures have been further scaled up, Railway sources said. As a precautionary measure, police have stepped up security at the airport.
Southern Railway has set up a helpline to provide information to the public. The helpline number is 044-64502416.
The injured have been identified as Murali (37), Krishnapant, Soren Pant, Santh, Bijan Kumar (24), Uma, Abdul Khan(24), Shihabul Haque (22), Vimal Kumar, Hari (21), Altaf Khan admitted to Government Hospital.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa ordered a CB-CID probe into the two bomb blasts on board the Bangalore-Guwahati train at the Central Railway Station here that left a woman passenger dead.
Condemning the incident, Jayalalithaa assured people that there was no need for panic as security measures have been tightened.
"I strongly condemn the blasts. I have directed the police to coordinate with Railway Police to nab those behind this incident and initiate legal action against them. I have asked the CB-CID (Crime Branch CID) to probe this incident," she said in a statement here.
She expressed grief over the death of a 22-year-old woman and sympathised with the injured. The Chief Minister also announced Rs one lakh as ex-gratia to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 to the grievously injured and those who suffered minor injuries respectively.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the Chennai blasts, saying such "barbaric acts" highlight the "desperation and cowardice" of those responsible and asserted that no efforts would be spared in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Offering condolence to the kin of the deceased and sympathy for those injured, he appealed for peace and expressed confidence that the people of the country will stand united against these attempts to disturb peace and harmony.
Singh said, "Such barbaric acts targeting innocent men, women and children only highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible," according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.
"The Prime Minister has offered his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and heartfelt sympathies to those injured", it said.
He said, "No efforts should be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Centre, he said, will provide the state government all assistance towards this.
Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah expressed grief over the death of a woman passenger in the bomb blasts on board the Bangalore-Guwahati Express. He expressed shock over the incident and wished the injured speedy recovery.
CPI(M) also condemned the incident and party's state unit secretary G Ramakrishnan demanded that those behind the incident be arrested at the earliest.
NCP General Secretary, Tariq Anwar said, “It is clear that it is a terror attack. There are terrorists behind it.”
Anwar, who is Union Minister of State for Agriculture, said the incident was being probed by concern agencies and things would be clear in a day or two.
"The process of investigation has begun. Everything will be cleared in one-two days," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress also termed as "unfortunate" the blasts and demanded strict against those responsible. "The news (of blasts) is unfortunate. The truth should come out before the people. There should be strict action against those who are responsible," Congress leader Rashid Alvi said.
Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, including DMK and DMDK, condemned the bomb blasts even as it slammed the state government on the law and order situation.
DMK president M Karunanidhi recalled the recent arrest of Mohamed Zahir Hussain, suspected of having links with Indian terror modules, and charged that lack of proper steps in the wake of his nabbing has led to such an incident today.
He said Jayalalithaa, by virtue of holding the Home Portfolio, should guide the police force and with the Chief Minister "not in the capital even during such critical juncture (post Hussain arrest)" there were no proper security measures that could have averted today's incident.
"Even after the arrest of that terrorist, because proper precautionary measures were not taken, bombs exploded at Central Railway station," he said, claiming that a thorough investigation of the ISI operative could have revealed today's plot also.
"But, the Chief Minister who is in-charge of the Police department has left for Kodanadu," he said. People in many parts of the state were already facing issues like water shortage, he added.
After undertaking a massive election campaign running to almost two months, Jayalalithaa had last week left for the Kodanadu in the hill district of Nilgiris from where she is discharging her official duty.
Both Karunanidhi and DMDK founder and Opposition Leader, Vijayakant condemned the bomb blasts and expressed their sympathies with the victims and their families. CPI(M) also condemned the blasts and party's state unit secretary G Ramakrishnan demanded that those behind the incident be arrested at the earlier.
