This Article is From Feb 21, 2010

Pune bakery blast: A week on

Pune: On this day last week, Pune had just begun to come to grips with its first ever tryst with terror. And that's still claiming lives.

On Saturday, the blast claimed two more victims - a 24-year-old Sudanese student Ahmed Amjad, and a 30-year-old Navi Mumbai executive Atul Anap. As the physical toll rises, the city is rallying against terror seeking peace as a balm for its pains.

Amjad had gone to German Bakery that night with a friend who's still critical.

"He was very pure, very kind and a very simple person," said his friend and roommate Khatab Eltayab.

The residents of Pune paid its tribute to the blast victims with people forming a human chain at the historic Shaniwarwada Fort.

While the city continues to deal with the physical toll, the police are trying to calm nerves through very visible patrolling combing operations and stringent security checks. It has also issued strict guidelines to hoteliers.

"We have told all hotels to install security gadgets, scanners, CCTVs etc and if they don't comply we will not renew their license," said Pune Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh.

Everyone is afraid but not everyone can spend that much money on security especially small hotels. All those equipments are too costly. Let's see we will decide collectively," said Ganesh Shetty, chairman, Pune Hotels and Restaurant Association.

The traffic Police has its own diktat. While riders on two wheelers cannot wear headscarves, women cannot cover their faces within Koregaon Park where German Bakery lies.

While some of the rules may sound bizarre, the police are at least getting some support.

With the peace march, all Pune now hopes will be a quick return to normalcy.
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