Necessary to isolate communal forces: CPI-M

Condemning the Varanasi blast, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) on Wednesday said it has become a necessity to isolate communal forces that breed extremism.

?The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the terrorist act of a bomb blast at the Shitla Ghat in Varanasi. The blast has killed a one-year-old child and caused injuries, some of them severe, to 35 people. The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt sympathy to all those who have suffered due to this attack,? the party said in a statement.

The CPI-M further said: ?The claim made by the so-called Indian Mujahideen for the blast shows that extremist elements are still attempting to disturb the social fabric and communal amity by such senseless acts of violence.

In the recent period, investigations have shown how extremist elements belonging to the Muslim or Hindu communities have taken to terrorist activities.?

It is essential to firmly combat such groups indulging in terrorism. At the same time, it is necessary to isolate the communal forces that have become the breeding ground for extremist violence,? the CPI-M added.

Meanwhile, an email that claimed responsibility for the Varanasi blast of Tuesday evening was traced to an unsecured Wi-Fi in Navi Mumbai, police said.

While reports said a father-son duo was taken into custody for questioning after the terror mail reached media offices from Indian Mujahideen (IM), according to one TV report the email was sent by Al-Fateh, which could be a front of IM.

It was sent from unsecured Wi Fi and possibly from a mobile phone, reports said.

According to reports, an 18-month-old girl was killed and at least 25 others were injured in the blast on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi.

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Karamvir Singh said according to preliminary investigation the explosive was kept in the wall between two ghats.

The stampede that followed the explosion, collapsing a railing on the ghat, added to the injured toll while the explosion itself was a ?medium-intensity? blast, authorities said.

The explosion took place around 6:30 pm at the Sheetla Ghat, where over 5,500 people had gathered to watch the ?Maha Aarti? and offer prayers.

According to reports four foreigners are among those injured.

Major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore have also been put on alert.