Thaindian News

Mumbai/Pune, Aug 2 (IANS) Home Minister R.R. Patil said it was “premature” to term the apparently-coordinated low-intensity explosions in Pune as an act of terror.

“Investigations are still under way by the security agencies. It would be premature to call the blasts as terror attacks,” Patil told media-persons after visiting the blasts ites early Thursday.

Investigators from various security agencies began probe into the four low-intensity serial blasts in Pune Wednesday night.

The National Investigation Agency, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad, Pune police and forensic experts have started a full-fledged probe into the explosions.

The Pune police interrogated the wife of a man injured in the blast, Dayanand Patil, and also lodged a case against unidentified people at the Deccan police station.

City Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol reiterated that the blasts were minor in nature and there was no cause for panic.

The apparently well coordinated blasts occurred around 7.30 p.m. Wednesday at four locations on the busy Junglee Maharaj Road of the state’s education and cultural capital, catching unawares the evening peak-hour commuters.

The home minister Wednesday night discussed the security situation with top police and home department officials and was in touch with the central government, a home department official said.

The blasts came on the eve of the Raksha Bandhan festival, marking the beginning of the festive season, with Ramzan Eid later this month (Aug 20) and the 10-day Ganeshotsav starting mid-September.

Security has beefed up in Mumbai and other major cities following the Pune blasts.

Road blocks, random checks on vehicles have been installed in different parts of the city, including on the two national highways and approach routes from adjoining districts of Thane and Raigad.

Commandos also have been deployed at important locations.

Nearly two-and-half years ago, Feb 13, 2010, a major explosion had ripped through the German Bakery in Pune in the posh Koregaon Park, killing 17, including some foreign nationals, and injuring 64.