HC blast despite intelligence alert in July: PC

As terror struck capital again, Home Minister P Chidambaram today regretted that the bomb blast near High Court here had taken place despite intelligence being shared with Delhi Police in July and the force being on high alert.

He told Parliament that it was not possible at "this stage" to identify the group behind the attack but asserted that government will not be intimidated by terrorist groups and was "determined to track down the perpetrators of this horrific crime and bring them to justice."

Making identical statements with "profound sorrow and regret" in both the Lok Sabha and the c, Chidambaram noted that Delhi is a target of terrorist groups and when Parliament is in session and during certain other times of the year, the capital is placed on high alert.

"Intelligence agencies constantly share intelligence inputs with Delhi Police. Intelligence pertaining to threats emanating from certain groups was shared with Delhi Police in July, 2011," the Home Minister said.

"At this stage, it is not possible to identify the group that caused the bomb blast today," he said about the terror strike which was the second incident at the High Court in over three months.

Observing that the objective of terrorist groups was to strike fear and to destabilise the country, Chidambaram said, "We are clear in our mind that there is no cause that will justify terrorist acts. Government unequivocally condemns the terrorist attack that took place today."

Appealing to Parliament and the country to "remain resolute and united" at this point of time, he said, "We must not show any vacillation. We shall never be intimidated by terrorist groups."