By IANS,
Varanasi : Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday blamed the Uttar Pradesh government of ignoring a specific warning issued about terrorists planning an attack at Varanasi’s Sheetla Ghat, where a low intensity blast Tuesday evening killed a small girl.
“We had sent a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government in February to share intelligence reports hinting at the possibility of terrorist outfits targeting this particular ghat of Varanasi,” Chidambaram told reporters here.
The home minister travelled to the temple town of Uttar Pradesh and visited the site of the blast and met those wounded in the terror strike that took place around 6.30 p.m. during the ‘maha aarti’ watched by hundreds.
The terror group Indian Mujahideen, in an e-mail, claimed responsibility.
Blaming the Mayawati-led state government for lax security, Chidambaram said: “Since the warning had been conveyed to the state government well in advance and that too specifically about a possible strike at Dasashwamedh ghat, we expected them to take appropriate security measures.”
He said the attack was a result of “some security lapse on the part of the state administration”.
“The first responsibility of providing security is of the state government and we can only supplement this. And I am sure the government of Uttar Pradesh knows its responsibilities,” he added.
He said the blast underlines the fact that “we should not underestimate the nature of the threat” and maintained that the incident need not be exaggerated.
“I know that this is the fourth incident in Varanasi. We had one in 2005, then we had Sankat Mochan (blast) in 2006 and we had another in 2007,” the minister said about the terror attacks in the past.
He said the last three years had been “relatively peaceful” in Varanasi.
“After 26/11 in Mumbai, 2009 was completely free of any terror attack. In February 2010, we have had one terrorist attack in Pune. And when I was hoping and praying that the year will come to end without other incident, unfortunately we had this incident yesterday (Tuesday),” said the minister.
He expressed “deep regret and condolences for all those who have suffered in the bombing”.
“In particular, I want to express my deep condolences to Santosh Kumar, the lecturer, who lost his lovely young daughter,” he said after inspecting the site and meeting the family members of Swastika Sharma – the girl killed in the blast.
The minister informed that another injured, Phoolmani, has suffered a head injury. “I am sorry her condition is also causing serious concern.”
“All other patients have suffered minor to small injuries. All of them are out of danger. The doctors have told me that the other patients are safe and there is no danger to their lives,” Chidambaram said.
Chidambaram went to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) hospital where several injured are being treated – straight after arriving at the Babatpur airport. Thereafter, he visited the Sheetla Ghat.
According to officials, the minister stayed at the site for nearly 10 minutes. He went to different corners of the ghat and questioned senior police officers.
He said 31 patients were admitted in the hospital and of them, four are foreigners.