20 confirmed injured in Delhi blasts

Authorities in Delhi began shutting down all cinema halls across the city after two blasts injured 20 people today. Security forces in the Indian capital have been put on high alert.

At least 13 people were injured in the first blast at the Liberty Cinema around 8.30pm local time.

About 15 minutes later, another explosion rocked the nearby Satyam Cinema, wounding at least seven people, said fire officials.

Television reports, however, showed eyewitnesses saying more than 40 people were injured in the two explosions and that some of them were serious.

At the time of the explosions, both theatres were showing a controversial Hindi-language film that has been condemned by Sikh religious leaders for denigrating their faith. Police declined to comment on whether any Sikh group was suspected of involvement in the blasts.

Days after its release more than a week ago, the film – titled “Jo Bole So Nihal” – was pulled from most theatres in northern India after Sikh groups demanded a ban on it. They were angered by its title and scenes depicting a Sikh character being chased by scantily clad women.

The highest decision-making body of the Sikh religion said the title misused a popular term only spoken in Sikh temples or on the battlefield by Sikh warriors.