2 killed in Ajmer Sharif blast, Army rushed in

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Keywords: Blast, Khwaja Muinunddin Chisti Dargah

New Delhi: At least two people were killed and 20 others injured when a blast ripped through the sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer on Thursday evening.

The blast took place 20 m away from the main shrine at 1820 hrs (IST) shortly after the custom of Iftaar when the evening prayers were on and at least 500 devotees were packed inside. Police have cordoned off the area.

One of the dead has been identified as 45-year-old Mohd Sohaib from Mumbai.

The injured were rushed to the Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College Hospital, the police said.

There was a huge gathering of devotees in the dargah owing to Ramzan. All markets near the area have been shut following the blast. The bomb is believed to have been planted near a tree and went off minutes after the fasting period ended.

According to police, the blast material was stuffed inside a tiffin box and the pattern is strikingly similar to the Hyderabad blasts.

Sources in the Home Ministry say a low-intensity improvised explosive device was used to trigger off the blast.

Virendra Arya, a journalist with Rajasthan Patrika, who was inside the shrine at the time of the blast, told CNN-IBN one person died on the spot and another succumbed while being rushed to the hospital.

Rajasthan police told CNN-IBN that after the blast, a he clamouring crowd of devotees attacked policemen and seven jawans were injured. The narrow alleyways around the shrine were cordoned off as well.

Rajasthan Police ADGP Kanhiya Lal said markets surrounding the area have been shut and law and order has been restored. "We will see to it that everything is back to normal by tomorrow and that people can return to pray," he said.

Superintendent of Rajasthan Police (Intelligence) also said extra forces have been rushed to Ajmer. Army has also been deployed in the area and an alert has been sounded.

Security slip up?

Rajasthan Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria told CNN-IBN that security at the dargah is usually tight, but there might have been a slip up. "Security was tight at the dargah. But it's possible that there wasn't enough man-power because of Gujjar agitation for which police was diverted," he said.

President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Kamal Farooqi, condemned the attack.

"This is a clear cut design and the idea is to disturb peace. This is why the attackers choose soft spots like religious. Ajmer Sharif is not only revered by Muslims but people from all religion. So this is not an attack on a mosque or temple, it's an attack on India's religious harmony," he said.

Prayers resume

The dargah was opened to devotees nearly an hour after the blast and prayers also started again.

However, the entry has been restricted, with visitors being told to not bring bags.

SSPs of all communally sensitive areas have been told to be on a high alert. CRPF battalions based in Ajmer have been kept in readiness for deployment at the shrine.

Ajmer dargah is normally a very well visited place by people of all communities. But there was even a greater rush on Thursday owing to Ramazan.