By Mayank Aggarwal, IANS,
New Delhi : Streams of dark, coagulating blood spattered the narrow lane and shattered glass shards littered the place in a grim reminder of the latest terror attack in the Indian capital Saturday that killed a boy and left 17 injured.
The blast took place in front of Anisha Store, which sells electronic gadgets, in the Mehrauli Serai market, around two km from the 12th century Qutb Minar, a must on every tourist’s itinerary to the Indian capital.
A six-to-eight inches crater marked the blast spot in front of Anisha Store, which is owned by the Khattar family. The family has three shops next to one another – Anisha Store, Rekha and Shilpi Electronics and Khattar Electronics.
Four-five family members of Madan Lal Khattar, who owns Khattar Electronics, were injured in the blast, which occurred at 2.10 p.m.
Two people on a black Pulsar motorbike rode in and dropped a polythene packet outside Anisha Store. A boy picked up the packet, and moments later the bomb exploded, filling the place with black smoke and an acrid smell.
Billboards of shops near Anisha Store were broken and glass panes of many nearby shops shattered.
Splinters from the explosion were embedded in most shops nearby. The show window of Karishma Point, a sari shop opposite the blast site, was shattered as well as a television set kept there.
Deen Mohammed, who was sitting outside Karishma Point, said: “My brother was sitting in the shop when the blast occurred. He was not injured, but quite shaken. He has gone home now.”
Raj Kumar, whose shop is located around 50 metres away, told IANS: “There was a loud explosion and darkness after that. This kind of thing has never happened in Mehrauli earlier.” He shook his head in disbelief as he recalled the incident.
Hundreds of people crowded the narrow lane of the market place after the blast, curious to see the place where the explosion had occurred and angry that such an incident could occur in the capital again. Exactly two weeks ago, five bombs ripped through three market places in the capital, killing 24 people and leaving over 100 injured.
The police had a tough time trying to control the surging crowds. All the shops downed their shutters after the blast.
“I have never seen such a scene,” said Amit Gupta, who ferried many of the injured to hospital in his car. “People were flung in the air with the impact of the blast. It was horrifying.”
Mehrauli Serai is located around two km from Delhi’s landmark Qutb Minar. It is located near the Aulia Masjid. Opposite Mehrauli Serai is Islam Colony, 250 metres away. It is near Jahaj Mahal, where Mughal Delhi’s famous syncretic festival Phool Walon Ki Sair is still held every year.