NEW DELHI: More than 35 visitors to the first show of Ramlila were badly injured when two minor intensity bombs exploded near Red Fort ‘round last Monday evening. The first blast occurred around 7:30 pmiwhen the visitors were queuing up outside the big pandal where the Ramlila would be staged, According to Constable Brahm Prakash, who was controlling the crowds outside the pandal, the bomb was probably kept in a motorcycle parked outside the ground.

“I was standing near the entrance of the pandal when I heard a loud blast. ‘Amid the cacophony of crackers’ Rees peewee name e eaters blaring ram bhajans, I thought it was a loud cracker blast but then I heard people shrinking and I rushed towards: the spot.” said Narah Prakash. “There, I saw flames erupting from two-wheeler. Other vehicles parked opposite the vehicle were also engulfed in the flame, Pushing, the on Tookers aside, I reached the site and saw two persons whose clothes had ‘caught fire. Five other persons were lying in the vicinity. I pulled these twomen from fire and rushed them to the hospital,” he added. After half an hour later, another blast ‘occurred at the signal point near the GPO Bridge. This blast also occurred in a two-wheeler scooter at ISBT.

I was standing near the red-light when I saw flames erupting from a two-wheeler scooter. It seemed as if somebody had thrown some explosive over the scooter because the rider also fell down and was badly injured, It was very difficult controlling the traffic at that time because 8 pm is the peak traffic hour. I rushed towards the site and saw two people caught in the flames. Five other pedestrians were also hit by the blast,” said Head Constable Naresh Kumar of the Delhi Traffic Police who was posted at the red-light.

“I pulled those two out from the flames and informed the nearby police station. It was utter chaos there with visitors rushing towards Red Fort ground where Ramlila celebrations are clarting from today.” he said. The Bomb Disposal Squad was called and the blast sites were being ‘examined. “We can’t say anything about the nature of the bombs because the site is still under inspection. We’re not even sure whether they were bombs or not,” said a police officer at the spot.

The injured had been rushed to the nearby Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNIPN) hospital. According to Ram Gopal Sharma, who had gone to Red Fort market to buy spectacles for his daughter and was waiting at the bus stop when the blast occurred, the bomb was kept in the motorcycle,

“I was standing near the motorcycle waiting for my bus to come when suddenly I was thrown back.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 29, 1995