Death toll in India's Ahmedabad bombings climbs to 40

Jul 27, 2008, 7:21 GMT

New Delhi - The death toll from serial blasts that rocked India's commercial city of Ahmedabad climbed to 40 on Sunday, as three live bombs were defused in the panic-stricken metropolis, news reports said.

A total of 16 explosions injured more than 100 people in markets, residential areas, public transport and hospitals in the principal city of western Gujarat state within 70 minutes on Saturday evening.

Doctors at various hospitals where the wounded were taken told the IANS news agency that 11 more people had died overnight and the death toll that stood at 40 was likely to rise as 20 people were 'seriously injured'.

Police believe that the explosions were caused by crudely made devices containing ammonium nitrate, ball bearings and other shrapnel that were hidden in boxes on bicycles.

Two bombs that exploded near a bus and a trauma centre were believed to have been planted in cars. Police were also investigating unconfirmed reports that there was one suicide bombing.

The well-coordinated attacks came a day after eight low-intensity bombs killed two people in hit the southern city of Bangalore.

A little-known Muslim terrorist group called the Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the bombings, calling them 'revenge' for the Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in that sectarian carnage.

The Indian Mujahideen, which security agencies believe is a 'smokescreen' for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant group, also claimed responsibility for the first major attack in India this year which killed 65 people in northern Jaipur city in May.

Tension was palpable in Ahmedabad on Sunday as police teams deactivated three more live bombs in the Hatkeshwar and Maninagar areas that were hit by blasts earlier, the NDTV network reported.

Many people remained indoors for fear of further attacks and the police have detained 30 people up some questioning as it intensified its probe, the report said.

Government troops also marched in the sensitive areas in the city to instill a sense of security among residents and prevent any violence in the communally sensitive state.

Indian leaders including President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed for calm and communal harmony in the state.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the 'the land of Mahatma Gandhi has been bloodied by terrorists whom we shall not spare'.'Terrorists are waging a war against India. We should be prepared for a long battle against terrorism,' he said.

Meanwhile, India's Federal Home Ministry that has been rattled by as many as 24 small blasts in two key cities over the past two days began a high-level security meeting in Indian capital New Delhi later on Sunday.

The Indian government has already stepped up security across the country and placed police on high-alert in other major cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.