UP minister critically injured in bomb attack

Agencies

Allahabad, 13 July 2010: In a shocking incident, Uttar Pradesh Minister for Institutional Finance Nand Gopal Gupta “Nandi” was on Monday critically injured in a blast outside his residence in Allahabad. The incident took place at around 11 am when 36-year-old Gupta, was leaving his residence in Mutthi Ganj for a temple in the locality. The explosion was apparently caused by a bomb hidden inside a motorcycle parked near the minister’s vehicle. Besides, Gupta, his personal security officer and a local media-person were also seriously wounded in the explosion.

 

The intensity of the explosion was such that a number of other vehicles and walls of buildings in the congested street, where Gupta’s residence is located, were also considerably damaged. "The minister had just stepped out of his home in Mutthi Ganj locality and was walking down to a temple in the neighbourhood when the blast took place," Allahabad District Magistrate Sanjay Prasad said. "Preliminary reports confirm that the crude bomb was kept in a bike parked beside the road where the blast took place," he said.

 

 

Gupta and other injured are currently undergoing treatment at the Jeevan Jyoti hospital in the city. Although there is no official confirmation, some media reports claimed that the minister is critical and has injuries on his face and chest, while others suggest that the minister is out of danger. The police are trying to ascertain the motive behind the blast and if the bomb was a crude one or an explosive device triggered by a remote control.

 

However, no arrests have been made so far. Chief Minister Mayawati has asked Principal Home Secretary Fateh Bahadur and Director General of Police Karamveer Singh to leave for Allahabad to take stock of the situation, an official said. 36-year-old Nandi is regarded as a young achiever and has risen rapidly within the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). A first timer in the Assembly, he had beaten two bigwigs - Rita Bahuguna Joshi of the Congress and Kesri Nath Tripathi of the BJP - from Allahabad South constituency in the last elections