Serial blasts target Modi’s rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan,5 dead

Four live bombs were later discovered near the rally venue. Though the Bihar Police did not call it a terror attack,Director General of Police Abhayanand confirmed the use of IED and timers. Intelligence sources also hinted at the use of ammonium nitrate,detonators,timer device and iron nails.

MoS (Home) R P N Singh told The Indian Express that it was too early to draw any conclusions regarding the identity of the attackers. “I can’t say whether it was a terror attack or political conspiracy. Only after the investigation will we be able to tell anything.”

One person,whose identity was not revealed,has been arrested and police claimed to have seized important documents from him.

Three of the five who died have been identified as Ramnarain Singh from Gaurichak near Patna,Vikas Singh from Kaimur and Munna Srivastava from Mirganj,Gopalganj. Whether they were political activists or had just come for the rally is yet to be determined. Most of the injured were attending the rally.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,who spoke to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned the blasts and appealed for calm. Home Ministry officials said there was no specific alert about the rally and it was solely up to the state government to decide what kind of arrangements were to be made. The Union Home Ministry had recently sent an advisory to all poll-bound states to maintain vigilance at election rallies.

Nitish himself said in a statement that there had been no intelligence input warning of such an attack and that even the BJP had not expressed apprehension of a blast. “We provided all the help required for a rally on such a big scale.” Ruling out any political conspiracy,he added that those trying to disturb the atmoshphere of Bihar would be identified. “There may be political differences between the BJP and JD(U),but it is time to fight such challenges together,” he said.

Calling the blast a “blot on the glorious traditions of Bihar”,the CM added that the NIA had been called in to join the investigation and promised definite details within 48 hours.

This is the second series of blasts in Bihar after the July Bodhgaya attack.

Fear spread among the crowd following the explosions,but only a few left the Modi rally. Large numbers decided to listen to him from the approach roads near the ground so that they could make quick exit in case of an emergency.

The first bomb went off inside a toilet outside Platform No. 10 of Patna Railway Station at around 9.30 am. One person who was critically injured in the blast later died at Patna Medical College and Hospital.

There were six subsequent blasts in a matter of an hour and five minutes in and around Gandhi Maidan The second blast took place at 11.40 am opposite Udyog Bhavan,injuring several. The third blast took place at 12.04 pm in front of Regent Cinema near Gandhi Maidan and the fourth near the old Gandhi statue at the rally venue at 12.10 pm. The fifth bomb went off near the Twin Tower,the sixth in front of the SBI Branch near the Maidan at 12.25 pm and the last at 12.45 pm.

DGP Abhayanand said IED and timer devices were used in almost all the bombs. “All the bombs were of low intensity. We are still searching Gandhi Maidan to find out if any live bomb is left. FSL team has collected samples. The NIA team has landed and will join the investigations.”

The probe team said that while some bombs were buried under the ground,others were planted on raised platforms. What may have saved the situation was that because of several approach routes to the venue,there was no stampede — which the attackers may have intended to spark off.

Most of the 70 who were injured and are being treated at PMCH and some private hospitals received pellet injuries. Sanjay Kumar,a Begusarai resident,was injured when he was reaching Gandhi Maidan. Lallan Prasad Gupta,another injured,said: “I came from Sonepur for the rally. I was injured when I approached what turned out to be a bomb.”

Vikas Manjhi from Gaya and Jitendra Mistry from Fatuah near Patna also received pellet injuries.

The Union Home Ministry has meanwhile sought a fresh report on the threat analysis of Modi,who already enjoys Z-plus security. Sources said there was no immediate plan to upgrade his security but another cordon may be added to the matrix.