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Need to be cautious, alert: Maharashtra CM

Last updated on: February 13, 2010 22:00 IST

Even as Home Secretary G K Pillai confirmed that the blast in a Pune bakery on Saturday evening was a terror attack, signifying the end of almost 15 months of peace, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said, "We have to be cautious and alert" but there was no reason to panic.

"We have to be cautious and alert. But there is no reason to panic," Chavan told news agencies. Preliminary information suggests that this "seems to be some sort of a blast," he said. Forensic experts have reached the spot, he said. The Pune police commissioner has said that till the entire place is searched, it won't be all right to comment, he added.

Asked if there was any information of Pune being on the terror hit list, Chavan said "I will check that."

Member of Parliament from Pune, Suresh Kalmadi, appealed to Pune-ites and the rest of the country to maintain calm and also be alert.

Speaking to rediff.com, Kalmadi said the bakery where the blast went off is in the cantonment area and very close to the Osho ashram. He said the mopping up operation was being taken care at the moment.

Kalmadi said during the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 in Pune, security had been upgraded and several security drills had taken place, and several CCTVs had been installed in the city. But, he also said no amount of security is enough.