Union home minister P. Chidambaram early on Thursday said that despite several improved methods in information gathering and dissemination, there was no intelligence input either with the Central or the state-level security agencies regarding the serial blasts.
Describing the blasts as unfortunate, the minister in his early morning press meet said that it was too early to comment and attribute the attacks to some terror group, as the investigating teams have been instructed not to rule out any angle till they get some confirmation.
Further, denying that it was a failure of intelligence agencies, Mr Chidambaram said that the security measures, equipment and intelligence gathering techniques have been improved in the Maharashtra police, and the same is reflected in the fact that it has been 31 months since the 26/11 terror attacks. Barring the Pune German Bakery blasts, there have been no incidents of terror activities, he added.
Requesting people to refrain from speculating, and sending emails or SMSes with speculative stories, Mr Chidambaram said that rumours will disturb the calm in the city and the nation.
“A resolute response is what one expects from a city like Mumbai, which has always responded to such situations in the most sensible way. People are requested to contact the police and other control rooms if they have any information to share. People in Mumbai and Maharashtra will stand up to face this cowardly attack, which is attempted to disturb our progress and prosperity,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the minister did not agree that it was an attempt to target the market places, but said that it was an attempt to cause blasts during rush hours in densely populated areas.
Saluting to the indomitable spirit of people both in Mumbai and Pune, the Mr Chidambaram said that it was unfortunate that despite all out improvement in security and intelligence gathering such attacks happen, all over the world.
“It is not only Mumbai or Pune, every city in India, even Delhi is vulnerable,” said the minister adding, “We have the most troubled neighbours, and hence every city in India is rendered vulnerable to such attacks.”