12 killed, 80 hurt in Malegaon blast; curfew clamped

Nashik, Maharashtra, Sep 8 (UNI) At least 12 people were killed and 80 wounded in three blasts this afternoon in Malegaon in north-western Maharashtra, leading to clashes which forced the authorities to impose curfew.

However, sources in Malegaon's Wadia hospital, where the dead had been brought and injured admitted, said 27 bodies had come so far.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his deputy R R Patil, who hold the Home portfolio, have reached the town.

Malegaon's Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Kumbhare told UNI that at least 12 people were killed and ten critically wounded in two blasts, of low to medium intensity, which occurred at Bada Kabristan and Mushrawat Chowk, in a radius of one km. He said the wounded have been admitted in Wadia hospital in the powerloom town.

The situation in the town was described tense as agitated people clashed with the police after the blasts at Fateh Maidan , Mushrawat Chowk and at the main gate of Bada Kabristan, police sources here said.

The sources said when clashes broke out between police and people returning after offering the Friday prayers at Noorani mosque, authorities clamped curfew.

At least 2,000 people had assembled at Fateh Maidan for offering the prayers today.

Maharashtra police chief P S Pasricha told the media at Mumbai that only one blast had occurred outside the mosque. But Malegaon residents said three blasts occurred within minutes of the first explosion at 1350 hrs.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary D K Shankaran told UNI in Mumbai that besides the two companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP) which were in Malegaon at present, they had despatched two more companies from the nearest district headquarters of Dhule.

''Besides, the government has asked the Centre for 30 companies of the CRPF to be sent to Malegaon,'' he added.

UNI MPJ-AKS-MR-ST SA VD HS1752