Mumbai serial blasts: Mumbadevi area third time unlucky

The name Mumbai is derived from the deity Mumba Devi, but the area surrounding the goddess’ temple has been targeted for the third time. The area was first marked by Dawood Ibrahim and his men in 1993, when they tried to plant a scooter loaded with RDX.

Ten years later, convict Ashrat Ansari left an explosive-taxi laden taxi in the area. On Wednesday too, the area perpetrators are suspected to have planted a bomb on a two-wheeler.

The 10-meter radius around the temple which has the famous Zaveri Bazaar area is always on the radar of the terror groups. On an average 1 million people visit the market, the small by lanes of the area have shops in every nook and corner.

The market begins from 8am and is open till a lot later in the evening. All the three blasts have occurred close to the temple in the different lanes leading to it. Police after the 2003 blast have installed CCTV cameras in the lanes adjoining the temple and the grabs, if recovered, will help the police in investigations.

The majority of businessmen operating from the area belong to the Gujarati community and have been there for generations. The Zaveri Bazaar area falls under two police stations the LT Marg, and the Pydhonie police stations.

The policemen attached to the two police stations are mostly solving theft cases or manning the high flow of traffic in the area.