At cops’ hunting ground, long wait

Around 70 km out of Mumbai, on the Nashik highway, most residents of this village need not have to be told that they have to come home early. It’s 11 pm and there is the odd TV set flickering in some houses. In most houses, it’s time to shut your eyes and wait. Some youngsters sit huddled in the entrance compound of one of the houses. One, wearing a skull cap, erupts: ‘‘If the police keep coming to our village after every bomb blast and harassing us for no reason, then we are even ready to join the Shiv Sena. Fortunately, there is no problem at the moment.’’

RUMBLINGS Interpol offers help NEW DELHI: Interpol on Wednesday offered help to track down the perpetrators of the Mumbai blasts. In a conversation with CBI chief P.C. Sharma, head of Interpol India, Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble expressed sympathy and all possible help. Two held in Kolhapur KOLHAPUR: Police arrested two persons here who allegedly tried to create trouble. ‘‘Some youths pelted stones and looted shops belonging to Muslims,’’ police sources said. Israel expresses sorrow NEW DELHI: Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Wednesday called up External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha at Sydney to condemn Monday’s blasts and expressed sympathy. Story continues below this ad Akhtar flays blasts MUMBAI: Poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday urged citizens, especially the Muslim men, not to give any opportunity to divisive forces to damage the secular fabric of the country. Panel to assist victims MUMBAI: Maharashtra CM Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday announced setting up of a permanent committee to assist persons affected in incidents like bomb blasts. (ENS & Agencies)

They refuse to give their names. They refuse to be photographed. It’s been 10 hours since the twin blasts that shook Mumbai, and just about a few weeks since the State Minorities Commission blasted the police for atrocities in this village.

After every blast that shakes Mumbai, the 7,000 residents of this timber village go through the police drill — of late-night sirens, days of questioning and grisly tales of torture.

The authorities will not ignore the fact that this is the home of Saquib Nachen, former activist of the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). A resident, who does not want to divulge his name for fear of police, speaks about the twin blasts. ‘‘First, it was the local train; then a bus; and now bombs were placed in taxis. Sab gareeb tabke ke log maare gaye (only the poor have died),’’ says the elderly person, measuring his words.

And is there any tension in the village, anticipating police visits like before? ‘‘Can you see any tension here, huh? The villagers would not be snoring so peacefully now if there was any tension!’’ remarks another boy in the group. As dawn creeps in, there is some relief that police did not come calling. The television anchors talk of police teams heading to Pune and to Aurangabad. At Borivli, they thank god for an unexpected night of calm.