Bomb blast in Thane, five injured

Thane, Jun 4 (UNI) At least five people were injured in a low-intensity bomb blast today in the car parking lot here, Rangayatan auditorium at Talaopali area in the heart o Thane city, police said.

The country-made bomb, wrapped in a plastic bag and kept on a bicycle, went off at 1610 hrs when the Marathi play 'Amhi Pachpute' was being staged. It was immediately cancelled midway, police sources said.

The entire area was cordoned off and a general alert sounded in the district.

Earlier, some employees of the auditorium grew suspicious when they saw the bag and went to examine it. Suddenly, an explosion occurred, shattering a basement wall, where the parking lot is located. Among the injured are four employees and another person.

They were rushed to a nearby hospital and all of them were reported to be out of danger.

On Saturday, a day ahead of the IPL finals, a crude bomb was found in an auditorium in Vashi in Navi Mumbai. Incidentally, the same play was being staged there. The bomb was detected during the interval.

Anil Dhere, police commissioner of Thane, said it was a deliberate act of mischief to frighten the people.

Sources in the state home department said a police team from Mumbai was at the site this evening and an intensive combing operation was underway in the district with the assistance of the local police.

UNI TEAM OBB SP ND2150