INDIA: Series of blasts ahead of rally by opposition candidate Narendra Modi in an eastern city of Patna leaves five people dead and 83 wounded

Record ID: 1375245

  • Title: INDIA: Series of blasts ahead of rally by opposition candidate Narendra Modi in an eastern city of Patna leaves five people dead and 83 wounded
  • Date: 27th October 2013
  • Summary: ** Edit contains graphic images ** PATNA, BIHAR STATE, INDIA (OCTOBER 27, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) CROWD OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE HOSPITAL SIGN ABOVE HOSPITAL ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF INJURED MAN ON STRETCHER BEING MOVED DOWN HOSPITAL CORRIDOR CROWDED HOSPITAL WARD WITH INJURED PEOPLE LYING ON BEDS, RELATIVES AND MEDICAL STAFF STANDING BETWEEN BEDS VARIOUS OF INJURED ON HOSPITAL BEDS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BLAST VICTIM, MUKESH KUMAR SINGH, SAYING: "It is the conspiracy of Nitish Kumar. He knew there would be a rally by Narendra Modi here. Nitish Kumar plotted this. The police and administration have totally failed in the matter. They knew where the bombs were fixed but still the police could not diffuse the bombs." VARIOUS OF INJURED ON HOSPITAL BEDS, NURSE ATTENDING TO PATIENT
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2013 20:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACUMMO2Y97ROCZSR7RHM5DE9L0
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Campaigning for India's tight national election turned violent on Sunday (October 27) when a series of blasts ahead of opposition candidate Narendra Modi's rally in an eastern Indian city left five people dead and 83 wounded.
    At least six crude bombs exploded near a public ground in Patna where tens of thousands of people had gathered to hear Modi as he took his campaign to the big heartland state of Bihar for next summer's national election.
    People injured in the explosion were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
    One of the blast victims blamed Modi's political rival, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, for the attack.
    "It is the conspiracy of Nitish Kumar. He knew there would be a rally by Narendra Modi here. Nitish Kumar plotted this. The police and administration have totally failed in the matter. They knew where the bombs were fixed but still the police could not diffuse the bombs," Mukesh Kumar Singh said from his hospital bed.
    No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts. However, police say they have detained some people for questioning.
    It was the first outbreak of violence since Modi, the challenger from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, began an aggressive campaign to oust the ruling Congress-led coalition.
    To his critics Modi is a deeply polarising figure under whose watch Muslims were attacked in deadly rioting in 2002 in the western state of Gujarat which he has governed for three straight terms.
    But to his growing army of supporters including many in Indian business, the BJP strongman is the best hope the nation has of turning around the economy after helping turn Gujarat into one of the country's fastest growing states.
    Modi himself has denied any allegations of bias against Muslims and a Supreme Court-appointed panel cleared him of any wrongwrong in the riots.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: WARNING: Editors please note, this clip contains graphic material
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