Red alert in Gorakhpur after serial blasts

Gorakhpur/Lucknow, May 22 (UNI) Red alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh after serial blasts rocked Gorakhpur in quick succession this evening, injuring five people.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Gorakhpur) Rajesh Kumar Rai told UNI at least four people were grievously wounded in the three explosions within five minutes duration between 1900 hrs to 1915 hrs at a petrol pump, Baldev Plaza Market and Hotel York.

He said the explosives, placed in tiffin boxes kept to three newly-purchased bicycles, were crude and thus, did not cause much damage. However, owing to a blast at historical Mecca Mosque near world famous Char Minar in Hyderabad ten days back, police had been keeping a close vigil.

Asked if there was a pattern in such blasts, since most of them occurred on Tuesday -- a day holy for the Hindu community, Mr Rai said anything could only be said after a probe. ''This could be the handiwork of terrorist outfits or some petty criminals, but nothing can be said right now,'' he said.

The injured have been admitted to the Gorakhpur district hospital and their conditions said to be serious.

Meanwhile, the international border that UP shares with Nepal and all other sensitive places in the state have been put on high alert.

Security has been strengthened at all important religious and historical monuments, including Ram Janmahoomi, Ayodhya, Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura and Taj Mahal in Agra.

With terror threat looming large on 'Prayag' Allahabad, security has also been beefed up there. Besides, security has been tightened at all railways stations and bus terminals in the state.

The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Police has been handed over the investigation into the contemporaneous blasts.

Police headquarter sources said the senior STF officials have rushed to Gorakhpur for starting the investigation. They have instructed all the district magistrates to maintain law and order and take stringent action against rumour mongers.

The state STF had successfully cracked the March 7, 2006 serial blasts at Sankatmochan temple and cantonment railway station in Varanasi and July 5, 2005 blast at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya.

Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties have condemmed the blasts.

UNI