18 bombs defused in Surat; 3 suspects detained

SURAT/AHMEDABAD: Terror clouds hung ominously over the diamond city of Surat as 18 bombs ticking in residential areas were defused by police which suspected a sinister design to spread panic in the state. ( Watch ) Three suspects - Abdul Qadir, Hasil Mohammad and Hussain Ibrahim - were detained near Limbi on Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway in Surendranagar district while they were leaving Ahmedabad soon after Saturday's synchronised blasts that took several lives and left over 145 injured. Their possible links with outlawed SIMI and 'Indian Mujahideen', which has warned of more terror strikes, are being investigated, police said. All the bombs were recovered in a span of four hours from different parts of Varacha area, housing most of Surat's diamond processing units, putting pressure on the city's bomb disposal squad. Three bombs were deactivated in the Mini Diamond Market area, three in Labeshwar, Santoshinagar and Matavadi localities and three under the Varacha-Kapodra flyover. The contents of the neutralised explosive devices have been sent for forensic analysis. "This seems to be an attempt to distract attention from Ahmedabad serial blasts or they are planning to strike somewhere else," a senior state government functionary claimed. A top police official felt the manner in which the bombs were placed indicated that the purpose was something else, possibly a "sinister" game plan aimed at spreading panic in the state. This view was shared by a government minister who contended that terrorists are not fools to allow people and police to trace the bombs in such large numbers. "We have found explosives from 18 places in Surat which have been defused by the police. I thank the people of Surat for their cooperation in these difficult times," Surat Police Commissioner R M S Brar told reporters. "There is no need to panic. I request you not to go to crowded places unnecessarily," he advised the people.