One killed in blast in Mumbai

A watchman of V N Jewellers in Bandra (northwest Mumbai) was killed when he tried to open a parcel meant for the owner Vasant Salla.

The parcel was delivered by an unknown person to the night watchman at 2230 IST on Sunday with the message that it be handed over to Salla.

In the morning, the watchman handed the parcel to his colleague who came in the day. The latter then informed Salla about the same. 

"Finding the parcel to be rather bulky, a suspicious Vasant told the watchman to open the parcel and find out the contents. It exploded when the watchman Krishnadev Jha tried to open it," said Dr Satyapal Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

A bomb squad immediately rushed to the spot. A host of senior police officers also visited the site of the blast, located on Linking Road.

"The sound was deafening and I was shocked to see bloodstains on Jha. The blast had injured his hands," said Shankar Singh, a witness.

"There was a complete chaos. But we immediately rushed the watchman to Bhabha hospital," he added.

Jha later succumbed to his injuries.

Ruling out a terrorist attack, Dr Satyapal Singh said it appeared more like a case of personal enmity. 

However, Vasant told rediff.com that he had no idea why he was being targeted. "I have no enmity with anyone."

The police, however, said that he had received threatening calls two years ago and was subsequently given police protection as per his request. 

"Further investigation will reveal the motive," said Dr Satyapal Singh. 

This is the third blast in Mumbai in the last five months. On December 2, a blast occurred outside the Ghatkopar railway station. It was followed by one on March 13 on a train when it was entering the Mulund railway station.

Dr Singh was not certain if there is a connection. "The forensic department is examining the samples collected from the spot. At present, I can only say that gunpowder was used in this blast and that no timer was involved."