Investigating agencies said that the blast was triggered by a crude device. “Six batteries of nine volts were recovered from the site,” they said refusing to speculate on the motive behind the blast. Sources however, said that they suspect that rivalry among the hospital owners could also be the motive behind the blast.
There are several nursing homes and private hospitals in the Hari Parbat locality, where Jai Hospital is also located. The blast had occurred at Jai Hospital on Saturday evening. Four persons have been detained in this connection, sources said.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh to each of the injured. The Centre has also announced a relief of Rs 50,000 to the injured.
The spot was barely 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal, officials said. “Security in and around the Taj has been beefed up,”they added.
Terrorist involvement
The possibility of a terrorist involvement in the hospital blasts on Saturday cannot be ruled out, Uttar Pradesh’s top police official said on Sunday.
Special DGP, Brij Lal said investigating agencies were probing all angles into Saturday’s explosion in the reception area of the hospital that left six persons injured and they may take some more time to arrive at any conclusion.
“The possibility of the blast in Jai hospital being a terrorist attack could not be ruled out,” Lal, who accompanied state minister Swami Prasad Maurya, to the blast site said.
Maurya announced the compensation for the injured and also a reward of Rs 50,000 for anyone providing clues about the blast.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Jitendra Singh, visited the hospital and announced the compensation to the injured from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
He was accompanied by Firozabad MP Raj Babbar.
“The state government was warned by the Centre beforehand but the warning was not taken seriously,” Singh said.
UP Congress Committee Chairman Rita Bahuguna Joshi also visited the spot and criticised the state government.
Crude IED
A low intensity blast in which a crude Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used ripped through the reception area of the hospital in the city on Saturday. The police said no arrests have been made so far.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, meanwhile, directed police and state intelligence officials to ensure that guilty are brought to book at the earliest.
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