Sumantra Maitra - in Mumbai
Serial bomb blasts ripped through the commercial capital of the world's fastest growing economy on Wednesday, in what seemed to be a chilling reminder of the coordinated attacks just three years ago.
Reports are there of a fourth bomb which failed to detonate. The bombs, which were in a tiffin box, a car, and a cycle, were of unknown intensity, but powerful enough to rock buildings and shatter window panes nearby.
As of now, 21 people are suspected dead, with more than 130 injured. The home ministry confirmed it was a terrorist attack. For the past few weeks America's CIA told the Indian secret service RAW, of Islamic jihadi activity and warned of a possible bomb plot. But the nonchalant central government was as usual complacent and stoic.
The places targetted were Dadar, the busiest local train station of central Mumbai, Zaveri Bazaar, a shopping district in South Mumbai, and Opera House, also in South Mumbai. The plan bore the signature of jihadi planning, intended for maximum destruction and loss of life.
The National Investigative Agency was called on to probe the attack, along with forensic teams from New Delhi. National Security Guards have also been called in, to assist the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad. India's other big cities, the capital New Delhi and Kolkata are on high alert.
The attacks comes at a crucial time of worsening relations between Pakistan and the rest of the world and the withdrawal of British and US troops from Afghanistan, which they invaded.
Also there are unconfirmed reports that this awful attack was planned to be on the birthday of Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving Pakistani terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai coordinated bombings.
Thomas L. Blair is a sociologist and political blogger on the Chronicleworld 'for creative renewal in Black Britain and Afro-Europe'. His work is honoured in the British Library's archive of "social, historic and culturally significant web-based material from the UK domain". He won top prize in the blogging competition on The-Latest.
Sumantra Maitra is a freelance journalist from Mumbai, India. He is a correspondent for All Sports magazine, and a foreign affairs blogger for the Washington Examiner. He has written articles for news website Merinews.com and other regional publications. Sumantra runs a blog at DailyWorldWatch.wordpress.com. He provided exclusive eyewitness reports for The-Latest on the Mumbai bombings of 2008.
Brian Usher is photography consultant for The-Latest.Com. He is a highly experienced editorial and commercial photographer whose work has been published throughout the world, appearing in many well known magazines and newspapers. Brian has featured in several books and has been a writer for the Royal Photographic Society magazine.
Heidi Kingstone has spent time in Afghanistan reporting for a number of publications. Her work has appeared in the Financial Times, The Spectator, The Sunday Times and other international journals. She has also reported from places like Iraq, Rwanda, Lebanon, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. Heidi is The-Latest's Editor at large.
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