Bangalore, Mumbai on high alert after Delhi HC blast kills 12, injures 76

Bangalore/Mumbai, Sep.8 (ANI): Sensitive cities across India have been put on high alert after a powerful bomb weighing two kilograms and hidden in a briefcase outside the main entrance of the High Court, killed 12 people and left 76 injured on Wednesday.

Speaking to media, Karnataka Chief Minister D V, Sadanada Gowda said in Bangalore that issues related to security were discussed with senior police officials and adequate steps would be taken to prevent any untoward incidents in the future.

"Already, my Home Minister has called a meeting of senior police officials and in detail, they discussed the matter, what further security matters has to be taken, and certainly we are ready and we are posting various police officers in various high alert places in and around the city of Bangalore," said Gowda.

Mumbai has turned into a fortress as the police stepped up security at the crowded places. Security men were seen keeping a close watch on the movement of the people and the vehicles.

"Their performance is very nice, they have become alert and they are checking each and every person and everywhere and each and every car and all. So, they have become too alert since yesterday. So, they are doing a good job," said Rahul Urkunde.

Police have detained three people for questioning, including the owner of an internet cafe in the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir over an email allegedly claiming responsibility for a deadly bombing of the New Delhi High Court.

The authorities said they are investigating a claim of responsibility allegedly made by the Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami (HuJI) militant group-an al Qaeda affiliate with bases in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Ilyas Kashmiri, who US authorities believe was recently killed in Pakistan, was the head of the group and senior al Qaeda member.

The Delhi Police also released sketches of two suspects with the hopes of the public reciprocating to nab them at the earliest.

In an e-mail to India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), the South Asian militant group, of HuJI called on India to repeal the death sentence of a man convicted for his role in an attack on the Indian Parliament House in 2001 and warned it would otherwise target major courts in the country.

Earlier in May, a low-intensity blast outside the same High Court in Delhi triggered panic but injured no one. (ANI)