Even as Ahmedabad crawled back to normalcy, life in the glittering diamond city of Surat came to a grinding halt after police recovered as many as 18 live bombs from different areas on Tuesday.
In a significant development, Surat administration has advised malls, schools and colleges, theatres as well as textile and diamond units to shut shop on Wednesday. The police will intensify combing and patrol in the city. The commissioner of police RMS Brar has also advised people of Surat to avoid venturing out.
A large number of bombs were found in the Varachha Road area of Surat, considered to be a diamond cutting and trading hub.
Six bombs were found in Varaccha’s mini diamond bazaar, one from Mahidharpura, also known as Mota Heera Bazaar’, three from Katargaam, two from AK Road, three from four-km long Varaccha flyover, two near Labheshwar Police station and one from Patel Bhavan.
It may be recalled that on Monday, one bomb was found and defused and on Sunday two explosive laden WagonR's were also found in the city. Explosives, shrapnels and timing devices were found in the cars bearing fake number plates.
Police had yesterday released a sketch of a suspect who might have parked the car in the Heerabaugh area. The sketch was based on the description given by a watchman of a near-by building who had seen the man parking the vehicle
.
Meanwhile, diamond trading activity in diamond city of Surat today came to a grinding halt especially in Varachha and Mahidharpura areas where majority of diamond trading houses and cutting and polishing units are located.
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Though diamond and cutting polishing units continued with their work, diamond trading houses in Varachha and Mahidharpura remained closed for the day following dozens of live bombs recovered by the policy today in Surat.
"It could be possible that diamond industry is being targeted," said C P Vanani, president, Surat Diamond Association (SDA).
Considering the increased threat to business activity in the city, industry players have demanded more police force for the city. "The population in Surat has increased ferom 25 lakh to 40 lakh as compared to this there has not been any substantial rise in the police force available in the city. We have already intimated our demand of more police force to states home ministry. Soon, we will be approaching Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and Centre government asking for more security forces," said Pravin Nanavati, former president of Surat Diamond Association.