8 Hurt in India Blast; Explosives Seized in Separate Incident
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NEW DELHI — A blast in a crowded market injured eight people Thursday and police seized 70 pounds of explosives, days before the arrival of President Clinton, domestic news agencies reported.
Police officials said the blast and the explosives seizure were not linked to each other or to Clinton’s visit. Security was tightened in the capital, where 55,000 police are already on alert ahead of the visit.
The police seized the 70 pounds of the powerful explosive RDX from three suspected militants, who were arrested. The suspects also had four hand grenades, one Pakistani-made pistol and bomb-making materials, United News of India reported.
Investigators say RDX, 2 pounds of which can blow up an aircraft, is often used by Islamic guerrillas fighting Indian security forces in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Police ruled out the involvement of a terrorist group in the market explosion and said it was not linked to Clinton’s visit.
Clinton leaves Saturday for a weeklong trip to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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