NEW DELHI, 23 July 2005 — Two persons were injured as four powerful bombs exploded yeterday close to the civil court campus in Patna.
The explosions came barely 25 minutes before Railway Minister Lalu Yadav was to pass through the area. He was to appear in a CBI court in connection with the disproportionate assets case against him.
Unidentified men hurled the bombs near the Kukujharia commercial complex shattering window panes and glasses of shops nearby. Two people were injured and the condition of one of them is critical. Both have been admitted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital.
Despite stringent security arrangements in the area in view of Lalu’s hearing, the unidentified bombers managed to flee the scene. Security men cordoned off the entire area and launched a massive search to trace the bombers.
Later, Lalu Yadav appeared before designated CBI Judge Muni Lal Paswan in connection with the amendment sought by CBI to correct an error in the charges framed against him in the disproportionate assets case.
On the other hand, in another example of the poor law and order situation prevailing in the state, criminals attacked and robbed the builders and workers engaged in mega rail projects at Sonepur bridge near the state capital.
It is no secret that due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, no central agency is undertaking road projects in the state. However, work on the mega rail projects is also facing threats, as sites near Patna are also not being spared by the criminals.
An eerie silence prevails at a mega bridge construction site between Digha and Sonepur as criminals looted construction materials worth Rs.16 lakhs Wednesday evening.The work, which even carried on during monsoon rains, has come to a grinding halt thereafter.
“They came and handcuffed us. Four men were guarding us and after that, they even took over the weapons from the guards,” said Sohan Singh, a guard on duty.
