Shinde to visit Patna tomorrow for post-blast security review

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Monday confirmed that he will visit Patna tomorrow to assess the situation on ground in the aftermath of Sunday's serial blasts in the city.

"I am going to Patna tomorrow and will take stock of the situation once I get there, after which I will inform you what the proceedings are. For now, there have been some arrests made. Out of the two injured, one has been arrested and the other is in the hospital," Shinde said here today.

"The agencies are conducting a thorough enquiry. Beyond this, I think it is not appropriate to make any comment as the investigation is ongoing," he added.

At least seven suspects have been detained in connection with Sunday's serial blasts in Patna in which six people were killed and 83 injured.

While four were nabbed in Patna, three persons were detained in Ranchi last night.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who ended his party's alliance with the BJP in August over the latter's decision to give Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi the starring role in its campaign for the national elections, yesterday said there should be no politics over the blasts.

Kumar, who announced Rs. five lakhs as financial assistance for the families of the deceased in the Patna serial blasts, confirmed that there was no intelligence input about the explosions.

Kumar also said the Bihar Police is confident of gaining pivotal information from the suspect regarding the investigation, and was confident of reaching solid conclusions about the perpetrators soon.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has condemned the blasts in Patna, and called for urgent steps to identify and take action against those responsible. He appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm.

Dr. Singh also spoke to the Bihar Chief Minister to enquire about the situation and call for immediate and firm action. He also assured the Chief Minister of all central assistance in the investigations.

The low intensity blasts rocked Patna between 9.30 a.m. and 12.45 p.m. yesterday shortly before Modi's address to a 'Hunkar rally' in Gandhi Maidan.

Six of the bombs went off inside and near Gandhi Maidan, the rally venue. The remaining two blasts took place inside a public convenience complex at Patna Junction.