Twin blasts rock Jama Masjid

Thirteen injured; Mumbai, Varanasi, Gujarat put on high alert

Delhi was again shaken by sounds of bombs and fire tenders as twin blasts inside the Jama Masjid complex this evening injured 13 people. The blasts occurred when Friday prayers were in progress.

While the first blast occurred around 5.20 pm, the second took place 15 minutes later, near a pond used for ablutions, in the courtyard of the 17th century mosque.

The injured were taken to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital.

The bombs were put in a white plastic bag and placed in the water trough at the entry to the mosque.

As prayers were on when the first bomb went off, people panicked. The custodian of Jama Masjid, Syed Imam Bukhari, used the public address system to tell people not to panic even if there was another blast. After the second blast, the Imam, in a short speech, compared the incident with blasts in Sankatmochan temple in Varanasi and said those who wanted to spread terror were trying to create panic.

He warned against such elements and continued to lead the prayers. The police, which arrived 20 minutes later, are yet to find out the explosives used. The situation was tense as agitated residents shouted slogans against the administration. Two companies of security forces have been deployed in the area.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Delhi Police Commissioner KK Paul visited the site.

"No craters were formed, therefore, it is safe to assume that the explosives were low-grade ones," Paul said. He added the police had launched a combing operation inside the mosque.

"Six fire tenders vans were despatched to the area," he said, adding the special cell of the Delhi Police would investigate the blasts. Paul said the victims had received minor injuries.

Patil described it as an attack on the secular nature of our society and added there had been no damage to the structure of the mosque.

"It is God's grace that no lives have been lost in the blasts and no damage done to the masjid," he said.

In Mumbai, security at places of worship has been enhanced. Police have put up a security ring in and around shrines, including Haji Ali, Mahim Durgah and mosques in central Mumbai. Security has also been strengthened at Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Prabhadevi and Mahalaxmi temple in central Mumbai. Police conducted seal and search operations at strategic locations in the city.

In Gujarat, security at Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, which was attacked by terrorists in September 2004, has been beefed up.

In Varanasi, a red alert has been sounded and security around vital installations and religious shrines, including the sensitive Kashi Vishvanath and Sankat Mochan temples, has been stepped up.