'Samjhauta blasts not to affect Indo-Pak talks'

New Delhi, Feb 19: Home Minister Shivraj Patil today strongly condemned the explosions in the Samjhauta Express, which killed at least 65 people and injured 12 others, and said strict action would be taken against those responsible for it.

Speaking to newspersons after his visit to the site of the blasts, Mr Patil said the incident would not affect the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan as both the countries are 'big and mature having firm resolve.' Referring to the explosions which have occurred on the eve of the visit of Pakistan Foreign Minister Kurshid Mahmood Kasuri to New Delhi, he said people want peace, but few were against it.

However, both the government would not allow the nefarious designs of elements, opposed to the talks, to become successful.

He said a new type of explosives kept in suitcases were used for the explosion which totally burnt the two bogies of the Attari bound train.

At least 66 people were killed and 12 were injured. Of the injured admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital, four suffered 40 per cent to 45 per cent burns while the rest about 10 to 15 per cent.

The heat generated by the explosion so much heat that it melted even the iron inside the bogies.

''A lot of information has been gathered about the blasts, but I will not reveal them. Investigation is going on. Stringent punishment would be given to those responsible for the heinous crime,'' he said and added that he would not jump and give the name of anyone as it would not be proper for the government to blame anyone without properly verifying the facts.

Refusing to admit any security lapse being responsible for the explosions, he said a detailed security plan has already been circulated in writing.

Mr Patil said efforts are being made by the government to provide all possible relief to the families of the victims. The External Affairs Ministry is making arrangements for providing visas to the next of kin of the Pakistani nationals killed in the explosion so that they could come and help in the identification of the victims.

The Railway Ministry is making arrangements for their travel while the Health Ministry is providing all possible help to provide medical treatment to the injured admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital.

Mr Patil, who earlier visited the blast site near Panipat and the injured at the Safdarjung Hospital, said about 527 of the 625 passengers of the Samjhauta Express have left and with the help of media, the names of those who have not returned was being checked to know the identity of victims of the explosion. Refusing to share any details of the investigations, the Home Minister said he was not in the blame game. He said he would inform Parliament about any outcome of the investigations.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary V K Duggal, who held a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Director Intelligence Bureau P C Haldar, said the bombs were designed with timer. It was a major effort to sabotage the peace process and create communal conflict in the country. However, people of India are mature and they would maintain communal harmony in the country.

Asserting that the peace process would not be affected by the explosions, Mr Duggal said a Joint Committee of Home Ministry and External Affairs Ministry was providing all kinds of assistance to facilitate the next of kin of the victims to visit India and to help identify the victims.

The Home Secretary, who accompanied Mr Patil to the explosion site and Safdarjung Hospital, said that most of the bodies have been charred beyond recognition.

Asked whether the government had not taken any cognizance of a letter received by Railway Protection Force about terrorists targeting railway stations if the government went ahead with the death sentence to Parliament attack accused Mohammad Afzal, Mr Duggal said the railways must have taken all measures required to provide security.

Meanwhile, high alert has been sounded in the national capital and investigative agencies are busy trying to identify those responsible for the explosions.

UNI