Varanasi blast: Two detained in Mumbai for terror email

MUMBAI - A day after the Varanasi bomb blast which left an infant girl dead and over 30 others injured, Mumbai Police on Wednesday arrested two people in connection with the terror email allegedly sent by the Indian Mujahideen that claimed responsibility for the attack.

A father-son duo were picked up for questioning in Mumbai in connection with the e-mail sent to several media houses claiming responsibility for the Varanasi blast.

The five-page email sent by Indian Mujahideen has been sent using an unsecured WiFi of Airtel Broadband of the two, official sources said.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal said that the email has been traced to Navi Mumbai and the police of that area and Mumbai Police were coordinating to trace the ulprits.

Terrorists of Indian Mujahideen have been using unsecured WiFi connections for sending mails to media houses within minutes of blasts taking place. The e-mail ID used were from gmail. The mail was written on December six and the account has been accessed rarely, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has sounded a nationwide alert with special stress on four major cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad - in wake of the blast.

“A general alert has been sent to all state governments and they have been asked to stay on high alert,” said Union Home Secretary G K Pillai.

“It was low intensity blast which occurred at about 6.20 pm in which three-four people were injured. Subsequently we understand there could have been a stampede…as a result 15-20 people were injured. So roughly 20-25 people injured,” he said.

Secretary for Internal Security at MHA, U K Bansal said, “We had alerted Uttar Pradesh Police sometime back. I am sure the UP police will take it as a challenge. There is no reason for panic.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has appealed to the people to maintain calm and asked the Home Ministry for a detailed report into the blast. (ANI)