The police claimed that the raw materials found was enough to make 50 bombs. Surat had been sitting on bombs, literally, it seems.
Leaders of the diamond markets and textiles markets met and decided to down the shutters by 1900 hours. Out of the city's four million population, more than 40 per cent is linked to the diamond and textiles trade. By way of security and safety, factory-owners gave token numbers to workers who ride bicycles, and had all unused vehicles on their premises disposed of.
Surat is one of the busiest cities of India, with an annual turnover of Rs 70,000 crore from the diamond industry and Rs 65,000 crore from textiles.
Sunday and Monday were unforgettable for Surtis because the panic affected everyone. Everyone was the victim, and the aggressor was unknown, unseen. This led many Surtis to believe that their attention was being diverted before the actual blasts.
Surat had witnessed social tension before, in the aftermath of the Babri masjid demolition in December 1992 and during the 2002 Gujarat riots. But finding so many bombs brought about a feeling of mystery combined with fear. To understand this, one must know Surat. There are two Surats on the banks of the Tapi river.
Image: A bomb being recovered from a tree-top.
Also see: Muslim RAW, a new jihadi outfit?
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