Successive explosions in Mumbai the economic center of India

Abstract

Terrorist activities in India are increasing day by day with sophistication in modus operandi. Mumbai the economic center of India was attacked by a series of bomb blasts at twelve different places within a span of an hour on 12th March 1993. The main explosive used was RDX [Krishnamurthy R, Malve MK, Shinde BM. J Indian Acad Forensic Sci 1996; 35(1& 2):46–61.] 1 . After about 10 years, terrorist activity of late has again erupted taking a toll on innocent lives, with the use of explosives causing death and destruction. On 2.12.02 a public bus at Ghatkopar was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) with two casualties. On 27.1.03 the public vegetable market at Vileparle was targeted causing heavy damage and panic among common people. On 13.3.03 a fully packed local train compartment at Mulund railway station was blown up by an improved explosive device and the casualties ranged up to 10. In most of the explosions the explosives used were RDX, NC-NG, etc. The blasts that occurred at the Zaveri bazaar and the gateway of India on 25/8/03 showed the presence of big craters at the blast site and on analysis the presence of RDX and petroleum oil.