The bomb was placed in a container near a tree at the Aahetai-e-Noor and police sources said it was a low-intensity blast. “No foreign substance seems to have been used for this blast but one can only confirm this after forensic reports,” said a senior police official. Director General of Police A S Gill, who visited the spot late tonight, denied there was any lack in security. “The investigation is on and it is too early to claim anything,” he said.

Sources said a damaged mobile handset was recovered from the spot and authorities suspect this could have been used to set off the blast. It has been sent for forensic examination. “These are still early clues and there is every chance that the handset might belong to a victim,” said a senior police officer on the spot.

However, Gulabchand Kataria, State Home Minister who also visited the spot, said the state government had prior information about the possibility of such a blast but it was pre-occupied with the Gujjar agitation in the state. “The IB had informed the state government but the state government was busy with the Gujjar agitation,” Kataria said.

Said Sameer Safi, a resident of Delhi, badly injured in the blast, “I was so shocked and my head was spinning but I was more worried about my nephew who was with me. How could something like this happen at such a holy shrine?” While Sameer was injured in the head, his nephew had a narrow and lucky escape.

... contd.