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2 killed, 52 injured in twin blasts

Two persons were killed and 62 injured in a twin bomb blast near the historic Sisganj gurudwara in Delhi's crowded Chandni Chowk market on Sunday evening.

Police said the bombs, planted 10 metres apart, went off almost simultaneously at 1805 hours. The place was crowded with shoppers for the Sunday pavement bazaar.

The injured have been taken to four hospitals -- the Bara Hindu Rao, LNJP, Gangaram and Lady Irwin. Fifteen victims are in serious condition.

This is the fifth blast in a series of explosions that have rocked the capital since October 1. Four people were killed and over 100 injured in the October blasts.

Sunday's first blast occurred at 1805 hours. The second one followed two minutes later. While both the deceased were men, there are eight women among the injured.

The Delhi government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 50,000 to the families of those killed. The injured would receive Rs 10,000 each, while those who sustained minor wounds would be paid Rs 5,000.

Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma visited the site of the blasts, and was highly critical of the police for its failure to nab even a single culprit.

"The incident has exposed the inaction of the police," he said.

Verma has demanded that Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna should order a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, senior police officials have rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. Sniffer dogs have been pressed into service and forensic experts have begun investigation to ascertain the nature of the bombs.

Earlier, Police Commissioner T R Kakkar had blamed Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence for the explosions. He has been maintaining that the ISI was now relying on individuals, and not groups, to carry out explosions.

UNI

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