Terror strikes UP; 13 killed in six blasts

Terror struck Uttar Pradesh today when militants triggered near-simultaneous blasts on court premises in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow, killing 13 people, some of them lawyers, and injuring over 50.

The blasts come close on the heels of roughing up of three JeM militants in the sessions court here last Saturday. The militants were accused of planning to kidnap Rahul Gandhi.

Six bombs "" three in Varansi, two in Faizabad and one in Lucknow "" some planted on cycles, went off within 15 minutes of each other in the crowded court complexes between 1.10pm and 1.25pm.

A stampede broke out in and around the blast spots with many injured bleeding profusely running for their life while several wounded lay on the floor crying for help. Police immediately cordoned off the areas and helped people in rushing the injured to hospitals.

Intelligence agencies here are investigating if the courts have been targeted in retaliation to the lawyers' assault on the JeM militants, police sources say. All aspects of the blasts were being investigated, including this one, said a top police official. Also, according to sources, Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul Jihadi Islamia militant outfit could be behind the attacks. Five militants, who were arrested in connection with the July 2005 attack on the Ram Janambhoomi complex at Ayodhya, had also failed to secure a lawyer as the Faizabad Bar Association barred its members from representing them. Non-availability of a lawyer resulted in repeated adjournments of the matter and things came to such a pass that the authorities approached the district and high courts and asked that the case be shifted to some other place. Chief Judicial Magistrate Bal Mukund had to go to the district jail to hear the remand application of the militants early this week.

Former president of the Avadh Bar Association, Ashok Nigam, said the serial blasts were aimed at undermining the faith of the people in the judiciary. Local lawyers said the JeM militants would not be allowed to enter the court here.

Apart from Uttar Pradesh, security has been put on high alert in several parts of the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. SB Shirodkar, senior superintendent of police in the temple town of Varanasi, which was the target of a terror strike last year, said nine people were killed and 45 others injured, some of them seriously, when two bombs planted on cycles went off in quick succession.

He said the injured had been admitted to four hospitals, including Benares Hindu University hospital. He said the explosives, planted on cyles, went off when the court premises were crowded with lawyers and litigants.

Meanwhile, in response to the serial bomb blasts in three cities in Uttar Pradesh, targeting local courts and bar association buildings, the Centre today sent three teams of forensic experts to the state.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil, while condemning the blasts, blamed "anti-national elements who wanted to spread panic." Patil also offered help to Chief Minister Mayawati in combating the threat posed by terrorists.

Though the ministry is cagey about speculating on the organisation and the motive behind the blasts, sources say it appears to be the handiwork of the local sleeper cells of major terrorist networks, probably aimed at avenging the beating up of three alleged Harkat-ul-jehadi Islami terrorists by the lawyers on the Lucknow court premises.