TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2003 02:09:57 PM ]
MUMBAI: Four blasts rocked Mumbai on Monday morning, minutes after the Archaeological Survey of India claimed findings of a temple in Ayodhya. Initial reports said 10 people were killed and at least 60 injured.
In a haunting replay of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts after the Babri Masjid demolition, four blasts ripped through populated areas of the city one after the other in a four-kilometre radius. All four bombs had been placed in taxis, pointing to a well-planned and coordinated attack.
Two blasts took place at Zaveri Bazaar and one each at Marine Lines and Gateway of India. The first blasts occurred at 1.10 pm outside the crowded Mumba Devi temple and near Gateway of India.
Maharashtra Home Minister Rajendra Darda, however, confirmed only two blasts, one of them in the parking lot of the Taj Hotel, where a bomb had been placed in the back of a taxi. The other, he said, took place at Zaveri Bazaar, also in a taxi. The injured have been hospitalised. The toll, of those dead and injured, is expected to rise.
Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has called a high-level meeting on security and the entire state has been put on red alert.
Meanwhile, national capital Delhi and other major cities too have been put on high alert. Vehicles are being checked and people have been warned to exercise caution. More reports follow.
Shaken eyewitnesses said this was the worst-ever such incident in Mumbai.
This refers to a case where a Muslim mosque situated on top of a hindu temple was demolished in 1993, leading to rioting and bombing. (The demolition was done by Hindu activists, and was not authorized by the govt. The mosque had earlier been turned over to the Hindus)