Thaindian News

Mumbai, Aug 2 (IANS) Ammonium nitrate is suspected to be the explosive used in four low-intensity serial bombs which rocked Pune the day before, Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil said here Thursday.

“According to preliminary reports, ammonium nitrate was the primary ingredient used in the devices which were apparently triggered by electronic triggers. We are awaiting a detailed forensic report on this,” Patil told reporters Thursday evening.

The minister also said that there was no central intelligence input received on the possibility of the blasts which left one person injured.

Four blasts within 45 minutes rocked different locations on the busy Junglee Maharaj Road of Pune Wednesday evening.

While teams of the Pune police Crime Branch, state Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency were probing the bombings, Patil reiterated that it was too early to say whether it was a terror attack.

“We cannot claim whether this was a terrorist attack or not before the investigations are completed by the probe agencies,” Patil said after a review meeting with police and home department officials.

Patil guardedly said that all angles were being investigated when asked about the possible involvement of right wing Hindu groups.

Speaking about a purported threat letter received by Pune police after the killing of an Indian Mujahiddeen operative Qateel Siddiqui in Yerawada Central Jail June 7, Patil said the security agencies were checking the letter for terror links.

The letter, written in Marathi was sent to Pune police commisisoner’s office a few days after Qateel was strangled to death inside his cell.

Meanwhile, the home ministry has put on high alert all major cities in the state, including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur.

After Raksha Bandhan Thursday, the state is preparing to celebrate important festivals like Dahi-Handi next week, Eid in the week after that 20 and Ganeshotsav in mid-September.