<b>Malegaon blast:</b> Centre rushing additional forces

The Centre is rushing additional companies of Rapid Action force to the communally sensitive town of Malegaon in Maharashtra where a blast has left 10 people dead today.

Home Ministry sources said the Maharashtra government has approached the Centre for additional requirement of 25 companies (2500 personnel) of the Central para-military forces and the men have been dispatched to the town.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil condemned the blast and described it as an attempt to disturb peace and communal harmony.

Patil expressed government's resolve to firmly deal with those involved in such inhuman acts and also appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony, an official spokesman said.

The Home Ministry has also issued an advisory to the state government to take all possible action to maintain communal harmony.

Ten persons were killed and nearly 100 injured in an explosion outside a mosque in Malegaon town of Nasik district.