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This article was first published 12 years ago

What could be the motive behind 4 low-intensity blasts?

Last updated on: August 1, 2012 22:30 IST

Image: The German bakery in Pune after the blast
Photographs: Rituparna Bhowmik/Reuters Vicky Nanjappa

The four low-intensity explosions Wednesday evening in the busy Junglee Maharaj Road area in Pune that injured one person are the second such incident in Pune since the 2010 German bakery blast. Vicky Nanjappa finds out if the blasts were just to create a scare, or something else.

However Pune has literally been a 'hunting ground' for the Indian Mujahideen. It has been their major base in Maharashtra, and they have been constantly looking to attack this city. Following the arrest of 26/11 conspirator David Headley, it was revealed that he had surveyed his targets.

The manner in which the targets had been chosen indicates that they were planning on creating a scare in some areas. Locations such as Mc Donalds restaurant are always abuzz with customers, and hence a perfect target for them.

What could be the motive behind 4 low-intensity blasts?

Image: The Indian Mujahideen insignia

However, for security agencies to find a motive at this moment is a difficult task. Though, a source pointed out Indian Mujahideen is the most likely suspect.

They have always had a grudge against the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad which has picked up a lot of their cadres -- some of them being allegedly innocent -- as the IM claims.

While the arrest of these cadres in the recent past in connection with the 13/7 Mumbai triple blasts is one of the reasons being suspected, the other reason is the murder of IM operative Qateel Siddiqui in the Yerawada Jail in Pune.

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What could be the motive behind 4 low-intensity blasts?

Image: Abu Jindal -- then and now

This is not something that has gone down too well with the IM cadres and Indian agencies were expecting a retaliation, says a source.

Sources point out that terror groups often do things such as this when there is an appointment change. This time around, the appointment of the new home minister is a good enough reason for terror groups to carry out an attack, thus making it look like an announcement.

The other reason that could also be looked into the arrest of Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative Abu Jundal in connection with the 26/11 attacks. The attack comes just a few days after the Maharashtra ATS brought him down for interrogation.

"Jundal has been questioned about the IM, and this could be also be a retaliatory measure," a source points out.

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