Six hurt in Gorakhpur blasts

The blasts took place within a span of 20 minutes in an area of 150 metres in the heart of the city. The first blast occurred at Jalkal building, second at Baldeo Plaza and the third at Ganesh Chauraha. The bags and tiffin boxes containing the bombs were kept on new children8217;s bicycles parked near a petrol pump, next to two electric transformers.

Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal told The Indian Express that the bombs were not of high explosive quality. 8220;They were simple blasts and nobody is seriously injured. The bombs contained ball bearings,8221; he said.

Meanwhile, Gorakhpur IG Dilip Trivedi said it was too early to link the incident with any terror attack. 8220;But one thing is clear, it is a part of conspiracy to disturb the peace in this city,8221; Trivedi said.

The explosions created panic in the Golghar area. Shopkeepers downed their shutters soon after the explosion.

The five injured were identified as Santosh Singh, an employee of the petrol pump, Rajeshwar Patel, a resident of Saket Nagar, Sanjay Ray and Rajesh Verma, both from Kushinagar district, and Guddu Choubey. One Harendra Yadav, who sustained minor injuries, received treatment at a private hospital.

Gorakhpur and adjacent districts had recently witnessed communal violence. There have been recent reports about infiltration of terrorists through the nearby Nepal border and eastern UP into the county. Police and intelligence sources said all these aspects would be kept in mind while investigating the case.

The Union Home Ministry is in touch with the Uttar Pradesh Government following the blasts. Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to senior state police officers this evening. They have been advised to take all steps to maintain order and communal harmony after the blasts, which come less than a week after the explosion at Hyderabad8217;s Mecca mosque.