NEW DELHI, September 7, 2011
Terror struck the Capital when a powerful bomb placed in a briefcase ripped through a crowded reception area at the entrance to the High Court on Wednesday morning killing 11 people and leaving 64 injured.
The “high intensity” bomb blast outside the High Court compound between Gate No. 4 and 5 occured at 10.14 a.m. when 100 to 200 litigants were waiting to get passes to enter the premises. Some lawyers were also present at that time.
Home Minister P Chidambaram said the blast was of “high intensity” and called it a “terrorist attack”. The blast also left a 3-4 feet crater at the site of the explosion.
Mr. Chidambaram said it was not possible to identify the group behind the attack. It was for the second time in less than four months that the Delhi High Court was targeted. No one was injured in the previous explosion on May 25.
Union Home Ministry sources said the death toll has risen to 11. Sixty—five persons were injured out of whom 15 are in a serious condition, the sources said.
The probe into the blast was handed over by Government to the National Investigation Agency(NIA) whose Chief S. C. Sinha said a 20—member team headed by a DIG has been formed.
A TV channel said it had received a mail purportedly written by Harkat—ul—Jehadi Islami(HuJI).
The mail claimed that the blast was carried out by HuJI to demand repeal of death sentence of Afzal Guru, a condemned prisoner in Parliament attack.
Mr Sinha felt it was too premature to comment on HuJI mail but said NIA was looking at it seriously because the outfit is a prominent terrorist group which considers India as target number one. He said there were no clear leads as of now.
Lawyers and litigants with blood soaked clothes ran helter—skelter and chaos broke out after the deafening explosion in the heart of the Capital which could be heard even 1 km away. Some complained of hearing loss.
Broken limbs and pieces of flesh were strewn on the ground along with shards of glass.
An eyewtiness suggested that the bomber may have queued up at the reception gate for entry passes and left the briefcase in which the bomb was hidden.
Court proceedings were suspended for a while before they were resumed.
Helpline numbers: Safdarjung Hospital - 011-26707444, RML Hospital - 011-23744721.
Keywords: Bomb blast, Delhi High Court
Courtecy : The Hindu
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