World | India
Pranab calls for 'zero tolerance'
Condemning Saturday's bomb blast in south Delhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee called for a "zero tolerance" policy on terrorism.
- IANS
- Published: 23:40 September 27, 2008
New Delhi: Condemning Saturday's bomb blast in south Delhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee called for a "zero tolerance" policy on terrorism.
"I condemn this barbaric act of violence leading to the loss of an innocent life. There has to be zero tolerance for such acts of terrorism. The country is committed to bring the culprit to book and stern measures are being taken," Mukherjee said in a statement.
"I have reviewed the situation with home minister Shivraj Patil," he added.
Small shops
The blast took place at a market in Mehr-auli. Located around two kilometres from the 12th century Qutb Minar, Mehrauli Serai is dominated by Punjabis. Around 150 shops, small and tightly packed, stand in two rows separated by a narrow lane. The shops on the ground floor, selling mostly electronics items, have houses on the upper floors.
Just 250 metres away from Mehrauli Serai is Islam Colony, a Muslim-majority area. Between the two colonies lie the ruins of the Jahaj Mahal where Mughal Delhi's famous syncretic festival Phool Walon Ki Sair is still held every year.
Shattered glass
The blast shattered glass panes of most of the shops nearby. The billboards of shops were smashed, and a considerable crater was left behind by the blast. The police described it as a "low intensity explosion".
The "Phool Mandi" or flower market of Mehrauli is located about a kilometre away from the blast site.
Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities that make up the present state of Delhi. The Qutb complex is a Unesco World Heritage site.
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