Patna: IM carried out blasts in retaliation to Muzaffarnagar riots?

Updated: Monday, October 28, 2013, 15:41 [IST]

Patna, Oct 28: The campaign in the run-up to the 2014 elections received its first major jolt on Sunday when a series of bomb blasts ripped the capital of Bihar ahead of the BJP's Hunkaar Rally, killing six persons and injuring several others.

Eight bombs attached with timers exploded at various parts of the city as part of a suspected terror design of the Indian Mujahideen (IM). Four alleged members of the outfit have been detained and one of them was seriously injured in a blast. He died on Monday morning. The detained told the interrogators that the Patna blasts were carried out in retaliation against the Muzaffarnagar riots that rocked neighbouring Uttar Pradesh a few months ago, a Times of India report said.

The second suspect succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning

The four were identified as Ainul, Akhtar, Kaleem and Imtiaz Ansari, the ToI report added. The victims identified are Rajnarayan Singh, Prem Kumar Thakur, Bharat Rajak, Munna Shrivastava and Vikas Kumar, according to the report. All of them came from distant areas to attend the rally. The sixth victim was yet to be identified.

The blasts and their timings:

Two blasts between Patna Junction Platform No. 10 and Sulabh Sauchalaya at 9.30 am

Blast near Udyog Bhavan on the eastern border of the rally venue at 11.40 am

Blast near Regent Cinema, also on the eastern side of the rally ground at 12.05 pm

Blast near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the rally at 12.10 pm

Blast near Twin Tours near the southern border of the rally venue at 12.15 pm

Blast near the SBI Branch near the western border of the rally ground at 12.20 pm

Blast near the Children's Park on the northwestern side of the ground at 12.25 pm

In Patna

People thrash a man whom the police detain and take away for questioning after a bomb blast outside the venue of BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Police and bomb disposal squad defuse a bomb that was recovered after serial bomb blasts took place at the venue of BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Police men at BJP's Hunkar rally after serial bomb blast in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Security persons attend to an injured bomb disposal squad member left, after one of the bombs they were trying to defuse exploded in a public toilet building in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Police held an unidentified man after serial bomb blasts took place at the venue of BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with Bihar Director General of Police Abhyanand during a press conference in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Injured people are being admitted at PMCH after serial bomb blasts during BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Injured people are being admitted at PMCH after serial bomb blasts during BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Injured people are being admitted at PMCH after serial bomb blasts during BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

An injured person after bomb blast before BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers shouts slogan and burn effigy of Bihar Chief Minister Nitiesh Kumar during their protest against bomb blast in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

An injured being helped by a man after serial bomb blasts took place at the venue of Narendra Modi's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

A member of the bomb squad searching the venue of Narendra Modi's Hunkar rally after serial bomb blasts took place at in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

A bomb squad inspecting the spot during BJP's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

Smoke rises after serial bomb blasts took place at the venue of Narendra Modi's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

An injured being carried by a police personnel after serial bomb blasts took place at the venue of Narendra Modi's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

An injured woman laying on the ground after six serial bomb blasts took place at the venue of Narendra Modi's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday.

In Patna

6 SERIAL BOMB BLASTS ROCKED GANDHI MAIDAN, THE VENUE OF NARENDRA MODI'S RALLY IN PATNA, WHILE ANOTHER CRUDE BOMB EXPLODED AT THE RAILWAY STATION, SEVERAL INJURED.