Ahmedabad Serial Blasts

The Ahmedabad police on Sunday confirmed 21 explosions in Saturday’s serial blasts in the city. The death toll has crossed 50, while the number of injured is over 200. While the Army conducted flag marches around the city, the police began detaining suspects, checking on the vital leads for the bicycles used in the blasts.

The police are suspecting banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) behind the terror strike. The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) arrested one Abdul Halim Maulavi from the city’s Danilimda area. He was wanted in a case registered under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in 2003-04.

Halim is accused of sending 33 youths from Ahmedabad to Pakistan for terrorist training. “Halim was arrested in connection with an old case. But we may get some leads into yesterday’s blast,” said a senior DCB official.

As the city police is busy handling the law and order situation, the investigation of the case has been handed over to the Ahmedabad DCB.

According to DCB officials, mainly bicycles had been used as carriers of the explosive devices. A number of cycle traders in the city are being questioned by the police to find out the details of the culprits.

The places where the 21 blasts occurred include Raipur Police Chowky- one each near Chamunda Jewellers and M Narandas Medical Store, Sarangpur Chakla near the vegetable market, Sarangpur Darwaza, Mayur Hotel in Naroda, Thakkar Nagar Approach in Naroda, Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, Sardar Patel Diamond Market near a tea stall and a dosa centre. The other places include the New Kamdar Post Office and Khodiyar Nagar in Odhav, Hatkeshwar Circle near Archana School and a vegetable lorry, LG Hospital, Jawahar Chowk, Maninagar Cross Roads and Maninagar AMTS Bus Stop in Maninagar, Narol Circle in Danilimda, Govind Vadi in Isanpur and Sangam Theatre in Sarkhej.