Centre, state to hold joint probe into Varanasi blasts - Sonia

Varanasi, Mar 8: Assuring that guilty would be arrested and brought to justice, the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has said the Center and the Uttar Pradesh state will jointly probe into yesterday's (Mar 7, 2006) serial blasts in this temple town.

Ms Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, arrived here late last night, to take stock of the situation after suspected terrorists triggered two blasts in this temple town in the evening.

Talking to reporters at BHU Hospital, Ms Gandhi announced a joint probe into the incidents, and said the state and Center should sit together to chalk out a strategy to deal with such situations.

Ms Gandhi said, ''It is our first duty to ensure people's well-being rather doing politics'' over such incidents.

The UPA Chairperson also stressed on the need for closer coordination between the state and Centre over such security issues.

The Congress chief also interacted with the injured people in the hospitals and enquired about their health.

Meanwhile, Mr Patil said the Centre was ready to provide all necessary assistance to the state.

Both the leaders visited the Sankatmochan Temple and the Cantonment Railway Station, where the blasts occured.

It may be recalled that at least 17 people were killed and over 90 others injured in the explosions, a week before the Holi festival.

The first blast ripped through the packed Sankatmochan Temple at around 1830 hrs, while the second blast occurred at the busy Cantonment railway station just 10 minutes later.

Police have not ruled out terrorist hand in the blasts and the explosives have been sent for test to ascertain the use of RDX.

A countrywide alert has been sounded and security beefed up at places of religious and strategic importance.

UNI

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