145;Blast146;, not 145;terror strike146;

Investigators have blamed Indian Mujahideen and SIMI operatives for all recent terror strikes in the country. But intelligence sources were today careful even with the use of the term 8220;terror attack8221;. Instead, they just called it a 8220;bomb blast8221;. But daredevilry of the assailants 8212; two youths on a motorcycle are said to have dropped off the bomb in a polythene bag minutes before the explosion 8212; was certainly causing a lot of concern, they said.

The second blast in Delhi within two weeks sent the entire government machinery in a tizzy. With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh out of the country, Home Minister Shivraj Patil met his senior Cabinet colleague Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the security situation. Mukherjee later told reporters that the government would take 8220;more stern8221; measures to contain militant attacks but did not specify what such measures would be.

Patil, under fire for alleged failure on the internal security front, also held a meeting with high-ranking officials during which he is said to have asked them to expedite steps being taken to raise security in Delhi.