Centre denounces blasts, says culprits to be booked soon

New Delhi, Jul 26 (UNI) The Centre today condemned the serial blasts in Ahmedabad which claimed 10 lives and injured over 75 people and said the culprits would soon be identified and brought to book.

A high-level team of National Security Guards, senior officials of Home Ministry and security organisations have left for Ahmedabad this evening.

The Home Ministry has sent advisory to all the states to remain alert and prevent recurrence of such blasts following yesterday's serial explosions in Bangalore.

The Ministry is planning to call a high-level meeting of the chief secretaries and DGPs of several states to device a strategy for apprehending the culprits and preventing the recurrence of any such attacks in future.

Condemning the blasts Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said, ''anti-national elements have been trying to create panic among the people of the country. Today's serial blasts in Ahmedabad seem to be a part of the same strategy. I condemn the blast and appeal to the people of the nation to remain calm. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.'' Mr Patil said the Home Ministry is maintaining a close touch with the Gujarat government. He expressed confidence that the culprits responsible for the blasts would soon be brought to book.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said that anti- national elements were trying to disturb the communal harmony of the country through such terror attacks. He urged the people the people to remain calm and spoil their nefarious designs.

Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to the DGP of Gujarat following the blast. He said 13 to 14 explosions took place in Ahmedabad which prime facie do not appear to be of high intensity.

An expert team on bomb and explosive left for Ahmedabad this evening. The Home Ministry is also alerting other states.

Mr Gupta said recently a high-level meeting was held was at the Home Ministry in which progress of investigations in various terror attacks was reviewed. The meeting also focussed on increasing coordination between various security agencies and strengthening intelligence at grassroots levels to prevent recurrence of such attacks.

He said he will soon call a meeting of Home secretaries and DGPs of states to deliberate on the issue of terrorism in the country.

UNI AJ SB RAI2213