E-Paper
Gorakhpur blasts - Cops investigate bicycle shops
Police question shopkeepers as part of investigations into bombs packed strapped to bicycles that exploded a day earlier, slightly wounding six people in Gorakhpur.
Police questioned shopkeepers on Wednesday as part of investigations into bombs packed strapped to bicycles that exploded a day earlier, slightly wounding six people in northern India.
The three separate blasts took place in quick succession shortly after dusk on Tuesday in Gorakhpur, a town that earlier this year saw clashes between Hindus and Muslims.
Police were interviewing shop owners because the bicycles used in the attacks still had plastic wrapping on them and may have been purchased recently, K Chandramauli, the state's top administrative official said on Wednesday.
"The administration has been asked to take the necessary steps to ward off tensions among the people," Chandramauli said.
The crudely made bombs were relatively small and hit a market, a building and an intersection and six people sustained minor wounds. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The attack came four days after a historic mosque in southern India was bombed, killing 11 people.
Another five people died in clashes between security officials and Muslim protesters that erupted after that blast.
Hindus represent more than 80 per cent of India's population, while Muslims account for 130 million of India's 1.1 billion people. Gorakhpur is about 600 kilometers (370 miles) east of New Delhi.
Police questioned shopkeepers on Wednesday as part of investigations into bombs packed strapped to bicycles that exploded a day earlier, slightly wounding six people in northern India.
