NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked all the states to be vigilant in wake of the blast in Varanasi. The Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said that general alert has been sent to all state governments and they have been asked to stay on high alert.
“We have reiterated the alert after this incident and I think respective state governments and the state police will take whatever action is necessary” he said adding that this incidence or any further blast, they will try to take the utmost precaution. He said that the UP government has enough facilities. ‘If they make a request to us for any help we will definitely provide all the help’.
One girl child was killed and about 25 others including four foreigners injured in a bomb explosion and stampede last evening in Varanasi. Official sources said the blast took place at Dashashwamedh ghat on the banks of the river Ganga at about 6-30 pm. Explosive was kept under some of stones on the stairs of ghat.
Meanwhile entire area has been cordoned of and security forces are deployed there. Team of forensic experts are doing investigation on the spot. Police has said the cause of the blast was being ascertained.
The Chief Minister Mayawati visited blast site late last night and also met injured admitted in different hospitals. She has announced that the guilty would not be spared. She said the affected people would be given adequate compensation. Earlier two cabinets collogues Swami Prasad Maurya and Anant Kumar Mishra along with senior civil and police officers also visited the blast site and met injured. The Ministers said the injured people would get free medical treatment.
The Additional Director General Police of the state Brij Lal told reporters in Lucknow that the authenticity of the claim of Indian Mujahideen in carrying out the blast is being verified.
The Vice-President Mohd. Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi have condemned the blast. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that it is an attempt to weaken India’s resolve to fight the evil forces of terrorism. He appealed to people to maintain calm and peace.
The Union Home Minister Mr. P Chidambaram said that the Government condemns the attempt to disturb the peace and harmony by a misguided group which appears to have planted a low- intensity device in one of the ghats in Varanasi.