India's Defence
Minister AK Antony on Monday suggested that neighbouring Pakistan may have backed the militants responsible for multiple bombings in New Delhi over the
weekend that killed 24 people, dpa reported. Nearly a 100 people were
injured when five bombs exploded in crowded market and commercial areas in New Delhi on Saturday evening.
"Militants are getting support from across the border and it's a
fact," Antony told reporters in New Delhi responding to a question about
possible Pakistani involvement in the blasts.
"Already the home minister (Shivraj Patil) and others in the government
have expressed their opinion on this. It is a matter of serious concern," Antony added.
New Delhi has often accused Pakistan of aiding and supporting groups suspected
behind terrorist attacks in the past years.
In July, Indian security officials had blamed the Pakistani spy agency,
Inter-Services Intelligence, of involvement in a suicide bombing at the Indian
Embassy in Kabul that killed more than 50 people.
Top Pakistani leaders including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister
Yousaf Raza Gilani had condemned the Delhi blasts.
In their separate messages, the leaders expressed their shock and grief over
"the loss of precious human lives."
"The elements involved in such heinous act are enemies of humanity,"
Gilani had said.
A group called Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attacks. The
Indian Mujahideen also said it carried out bombings in in the Jaipur and
Ahmedabad cities in May and July which claimed 119 lives.
Security agencies believe that the Indian Mujahideen is a front of the banned
terrorist group Students' Islamic Movement of India, and Pakistan-based
Lashkar-e-Toiba, that have jointly carried out attacks in the past.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police which claimed it had obtained "vital
leads" in the case, said investigations were progressing in the right
direction.
Indian police were searching for the key suspect, SIMI activist Abdul Subhan
Qureishi, a software engineer from Mumbai, who allegedly planned the attacks in
Delhi and Ahmedabad.
Later on Monday, the Indian police released sketches of the Qureishi and four
other suspects.
In a related development, local media reported eight blast victims who
sustained serious injuries were battling for their lives. Another 50 people
being treated at various hospitals in Delhi.