Unfazed by Saturday's serial bomb blasts that claimed 59 lives, Delhiites thronged various markets on Sunday for festive shopping, even as police launched a massive hunt to track down the terrorists responsible.
Taking extra precautionary measures in view of Diwali and Id festivals, police deployed around 2600 additional armed personnel besides Central Para-Military Forces across the capital, particularly in markets and sensitive locations.
Raids were carried out in scores of places across the capital and adjoining areas, and police picked up more than 25 people for questioning as part of their investigation. It is being carried out jointly by various wings - Special Cell, Crime Branch - and intelligence agencies.
A reward of Rs 1 lakh was also announced for information leading to the arrest of the culprits. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired a Cabinet meeting, which reviewed the situation arising out of the three serial blasts that also injured 210 people. He also visited Safdarjung Hospital where most of the wounded are being treated.
A little-known militant outfit, Mahaz-e-Inquilab, owned up responsibility for the blasts and Delhi police was verifying the claim of the group, which was linked to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Tayiba.
Maintaining that the probe was moving in the right direction, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters after the Cabinet meeting - "We have lots of information with us."
Delhi Police Joint Commissioner (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told a press conference that the pattern in which the blasts were carried out indicated that a single group was responsible for it.
