Allahabad:
UP Minister Nand Gopal Gupta "Nandi" was on Monday injured in a bomb blast apparently targeting him just outside his residence in Allahabad. Gupta escaped with serious injuries but a man paying him a visit later succumbed to injuries.
The incident, which sent shock waves in the city, took place at around 11 AM when the 36-year-old Gupta, Minister for Institutional Finance, Stamp and Judicial Tax in the Mayawati government, was going to a temple situated about 60 metres from his residence.
The attackers had set off crude bombs, planted in a motorcycle, just as Gupta stepped out.
"There is a temple about 50 to 60 metres from his house. He was headed there with his armed guard. About 10 to 15 feet away, the motorcycle had been planted. It blew up," said Brijlal, Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Uttar Pradesh.
"Local journalist Vijay Pratap Singh and the minister's personal security officer Sanjay, who accompanied Gupta, were seriously injured in the blast," Deputy Inspector General of Police Braj Bhushan said.
They were rushed to the private Jeevan Jyoti hospital.
The ruling BSP was quick in its reaction. ''This is not an attack on our minister; it's an attack on our government," said Swami Prasad Maurya, Uttar Pradesh BSP president.
Uttar Pradesh PWD Minister and Mayawati's close aide Naseemuddin Siddqui took a tough stance. He said, ''Whoever he is, the guilty won't be spared."
There was tight security outside the hospital to ensure that there is no backlash from his supporters. There are reports that Nand Gopal has lost a thumb, has splinter wounds and his hands are badly damaged.
As the news of the explosion spread, angry supporters of the ruling BSP swarmed Gupta's house and the hospital and raised slogans against the "inefficiency" of police.
As soon as the news of attack reached Lucknow, Mayawati called a meeting of senior officials and Principal Secretary Kunwar Fateh Bahadur along with DGP Karmveer Singh flew to Allahabad on her direction.
"We have not been able to establish the motive. No arrests have been made so far. We are still investigating," Brijlal added.
Nand Gopal Gupta had shot to fame after defeating two political heavyweights, Kesri Nath Tripathi and Rita Bahuguna Joshi in the 2007 Assembly elections.
This attack on him is a serious blow to the BSP that came to power with the promise of restoring law and order in UP. (
With PTI inputs)