Chidambaram: No intelligence inputs on the Mumbai Blast

Mumbai, Jul 14: Home Minister P Chidambaram along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in the press conference reiterated that the Mumbai blast “cannot be seen as an attack on India's commercial capital". Giving an overview of the situating in the aftermath of the blast leading to the death of 18 people and 131 injured, of which 23 are seriously injured, he said that 17 bodies have been recovered with a severed head also found among the debris.

Further giving information on the blasts, he said that the Dadar blasts were low intensity in nature. He personally visited the blasts' sites and took a first hand account of the ground situation there. He declared that it was a co-ordinated attack and that the NSG team and the CISF team arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday night to collect evidence that might lead them to the culprits. [Complete coverage of Mumbai Blasts]

On the modus operandi of the Mumbai blasts, Chidambaram stated that Ammonium Nitrate was used with a timer mechanism to cause maximum attack. He also commented that there was “absolutely no intelligence inputs on the attacks, and it cannot be termed as intelligence failure." He also said that the investigating officials have been specifically advised not to have a pre-determined view on the attacks and since no group has claimed responsibility, all terror outfits hostile to India are suspects in the case.

On being asked if the blasts were intended to impact the markets, the Home Minister opined, “I don't think the blast was carried out keeping in view of the markets there. The place could have been chosen due to the density of the area. After personally visiting the sites of Dadar and Zaveri Bazaar, he stated that “some of the lanes in the area are so congested and choc-a block that even a low-intensity blast could have the maximum impact."

He also added that no place including Mumbai was safe and the threat was relevant in all major cities. In a veiled allegation, he said that “Indian lives in the most troubled neighbourhood in the world, considering Pakistan and Afghanistan as the epicenter of terrorism."

OneIndia News