OneWorld.net (U.S.)

New Delhi, October 30: The police combed the sites of three powerful blasts in New Delhi on Sunday for clues to who carried out coordinated attacks that killed at least 61 people, just days before Diwali and Eid.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who cut short a visit to Kolkata to rush back to the capital, blamed Saturday evening's attacks in crowded pre-holiday bazaars on terrorists, but said it was too early to speculate who was behind the blasts.

New Delhi's CM appealed for people to stay away from public areas for the next few days ahead of Diwali on Tuesday and Eid a few days later.

In Delhi, extra armed police manned new barricades on the streets and the turnout at some temples and mosques was lower than normal in the cool, clear autumn morning. There is some sense of fear, obviously," said 40-year-old Mohammad Salim.

But the scene at India Gate, a monument in the heart of New Delhi near most VIP installations, was like any other holiday. Dozens of teenagers were playing cricket on the lawns near the structure erected in memory of war heroes.

Domestic and foreign tourists, who regularly come, were walking around and taking photographs. Hawkers and icecream-sellers were doing brisk business.

"It is a sad event but life has to go on," said Meenakshi Dutta, a tourist from Kolkata.

The newspapers however carried graphic decriptions of the bombs and photos of victims.

Source: Indian Express More