Curfew imposed as a response to India bombings

AUTHORITIES imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in parts of India’s historic western city of Jaipur yesterday, a day after eight bombs ripped through bustling streets, killing 61 people and injuring 216.

The blasts within minutes of each other brought fears that Pakistani or Bangladeshi Islamist militant groups were trying to undermine a fragile peace process between India and Pakistan. But police have not yet blamed any particular group.

Bombs, many strapped to bicycles, exploded by a main temple and markets inside the pink-walled city. Slippers, broken pieces of glass and bits of clothes now litter the main market place.

Authorities cleaned a blood-splattered street in front of Hawa Mahal, or the “palace of wind”, a five-storied sandstone building built by a Hindu king for his queen in 1799 AD.

Officials said they did not know which group was responsible for the bombings.

“We have detained two to three persons for questioning,” Vasundhara Raje, chief minister of Rajasthan state, told reporters. “We have got slender leads, but not a definite lead in the case.”