February 14, 2010 10:11 AM

printer

Chidambaram dismisses intelligence failure in Pune

Dismissing "intelligence failure" in the Pune blast, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the terrorists have hit a "soft target" like the German bakery which is frequented by foreigners and Indians alike. Addressing a press conference in Pune after visiting local hospitals to meet the injured in the terror attack, he maintained that the "hard targets" like the Osho Ashram and the Jewish Chabad House located near the bakery had been surveyed by US Lashker-e-Taiba suspect David Headley during his visit to India. Mr. Chidambaram said, the area was "in the radar" of terrorists for some time.The Home Minister said the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad has taken over the case and constituted teams to investigate the blast. He announced a compensation of five lakh rupees to the families of those killed in the attack.<br/><br/>Terror struck Pune last night as a powerful bomb ripped apart a popular bakery near the Chabad House, killing nine people, including five women and injuring over 50 in the first major attack since 26/11 carnage. The improvised explosive device, kept in a packet outside the kitchen of the German bakery, exploded at around 7.30 pm when a waiter attempted to open it.

Most Read
View All arrow-right

No posts found.