Bomb blasts rock Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Jul 26: A day after a series of explosions rocked Bangalore, 16 blasts went off in Ahmedabad capital city of Gujarat on Saturday, July 26. Reports suggests that 18 people have been killed and 30 others are injured in the incident. All blasts went off in a span of half an hour starting 6:45 pm।

The areas targeted are Raipur, Maninagar, Isanpur, Naroda, Bapu Nagar and Diamond Market। These are residential and market areas in the city. Sources say that these areas are particularly crowded on Saturday and Sunday evenings. According to police sources the blasts were of low intensity. The first bomb was kept in a bicycle while the others were kept in tiffin boxes. Police have rushed to the sites. Most of the blasts occured in and around Maninagar , which is the constituency of Gujarat chief minister, Narendra Modi. Most of these are communally tensed areas in Ahmedabad.

All mobile networks in te state have been jammed।

Just before the blasts took place a group called Indian Mujahiddin sent an email to a television channel saying that there will be blasts।

Ahmedabad has been cordoned off as it is a sensitive area and authorities don"t want tensions to flare up।

Delhi, Mumbai, and other metros in the country are already on the high alert।

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has applealed to the citizens to maintain calm।

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani reacting to the serial blasts that rocked the city of Ahmedabad, said, 'Stricter laws to control terror are the need of the hour। Law and order situation in Gujarat is satisfactory. The blasts are the result of sinister designs on the part of terrorist organisations. It is something serious, and must be taken seriously by State and Centre.'

To the question that two BJP-ruled states have been targetted in as many days, Advani said, "I would not draw any conclusion on this।"

Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that Ahmedabad bomb blasts aimed at disturbing peace and harmony of the country।Home Minister Shivraj Patil also condemned the incident.

BJP President Rajnath Singh also reacted to the terror attack and said, "The center should work more in co-operation with the state governments to combat terror"।

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has called for a urgent cabinet meeting at his residence and the Chief Minister is likely to visit the blast areas soon.

Sex on Dubai beach: Brit couple face jail

London, 26 July , A British couple accused of having intercourse in public on a Dubai beach face the harshest sentence after being charged with having sex in public, illicit sex and being drunk in public।

Dubai-based Michelle Palmer, 36, and tourist Vince Acors, 34, may have to serve a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted। The pair denied having a drunken romp in public when arrested by the police.

However, media reports now suggest that DNA tests have confirmed that they actually had full sex, and that Vince has admitted it।

A paper even said that Vince had told a prosecutor that he regretted his “thoughtless actions”। “DNA tests proved they had sex together that day,” British tabloid The Sun quoted a source as having told the Dubai-based paper.

The report also reveals that the pair have been charged with having sex in public, illicit sex and being drunk in public।

However, one of Vince’s friends, Lee Bowden, said last night: “He knows nothing about any charges।”

Michelle and Vince were apprehended on July 5 by a police officer। They had hoped to escape with a caution after they publicly apologised to the police officers involved in the case, but have been charged with three counts. They cannot leave Dubai as part of their bail conditions, reports the Telegraph.

Palmer, a publishing executive originally from Oakham, Rutland, left her company earlier this month when the allegations first arose. It is against the law in the United Arab Emirates to have sexual relations outside of marriage.