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India bomb blasts target BJP rally in eastern city of Patna India bomb blasts target BJP rally in eastern city of Patna
(35 minutes later)
A series of small bomb blasts have killed five people and injured dozens in the eastern Indian city of Patna, just hours before a major campaign rally by the country's main opposition candidate for prime minister in a nearby park.A series of small bomb blasts have killed five people and injured dozens in the eastern Indian city of Patna, just hours before a major campaign rally by the country's main opposition candidate for prime minister in a nearby park.
After the six homemade bombs went off in the Bihar state capital, panic erupted briefly among the hundreds of thousands of people gathered to hear Narendra Modi of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) speak.After the six homemade bombs went off in the Bihar state capital, panic erupted briefly among the hundreds of thousands of people gathered to hear Narendra Modi of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) speak.
Authorities quickly restored order, the rally went ahead as scheduled and Modi made no mention of the explosions during his hour-long speech. The longtime chief minister of western Gujarat state has been waging a fierce national campaign to unseat the Congress party-led government in next year's elections.Authorities quickly restored order, the rally went ahead as scheduled and Modi made no mention of the explosions during his hour-long speech. The longtime chief minister of western Gujarat state has been waging a fierce national campaign to unseat the Congress party-led government in next year's elections.
Police detained one man for questioning, but did not say whether he was a suspect.Police detained one man for questioning, but did not say whether he was a suspect.
India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, condemned Sunday's violence and appealed for peace and calm. India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, condemned Sunday's violence and appealed for calm.
The first blast came from a crude device that exploded in a public toilet building on an isolated railway platform, the Patna district police chief, Manu Maharaj, said.The first blast came from a crude device that exploded in a public toilet building on an isolated railway platform, the Patna district police chief, Manu Maharaj, said.
Another bomb went off near a cinema, and two more exploded just outside the park, sending plumes of grey smoke into the air above the crowd.Another bomb went off near a cinema, and two more exploded just outside the park, sending plumes of grey smoke into the air above the crowd.
"All the bombs produced low-intensity blasts," Maharaj said. "An anti-sabotage team is investigating what happened.""All the bombs produced low-intensity blasts," Maharaj said. "An anti-sabotage team is investigating what happened."
Five people were killed in the blasts and 73 were being treated for injuries, according to the head of Patna Medical College hospital, Vimal Karak.Five people were killed in the blasts and 73 were being treated for injuries, according to the head of Patna Medical College hospital, Vimal Karak.
Bomb disposal and forensic teams had found anothere two unexploded devices around the railway station and were defusing them, the railway police superintendent Upendra Kumar Sinha said. Bomb disposal and forensic teams had found another two unexploded devices near the railway station and were defusing them, the railway police superintendent, Upendra Kumar Sinha, said.
Modi ignored the blasts during his speech and instead focused on criticising Singh's government for the country's high inflation rate. He also accused Bihar's highest elected leader, Nitish Kumar, of betraying the BJP after using its support to win his seat in the state.Modi ignored the blasts during his speech and instead focused on criticising Singh's government for the country's high inflation rate. He also accused Bihar's highest elected leader, Nitish Kumar, of betraying the BJP after using its support to win his seat in the state.
Modi's plans to visit Bihar have been controversial since Kumar severed ties with the BJP six months ago to protest Modi's candidacy. Kumar has questioned Modi's secular credentials and suggested that he could exacerbate communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India. Modi's plans to visit Bihar have been controversial since Kumar severed ties with the BJP six months ago to protest against Modi's candidacy. Kumar has questioned Modi's secular credentials and suggested he could exacerbate communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India.
Over the past decade, Modi has been accused of ignoring a 2002 spate of violent attacks against Muslims in his home state of Gujarat, an allegation he has denied.Over the past decade, Modi has been accused of ignoring a 2002 spate of violent attacks against Muslims in his home state of Gujarat, an allegation he has denied.
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