The Central government on Friday rushed paramilitary forces to Malegaon district in Maharashtra to maintain law and order, and prevent any communal backlash in the wake of the twin blasts that killed 30 people and injured 56 others in the textile town.
Advisories have also been issued to the states to be on high alert.
The Centre has rushed over 3,000 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Forces besides over 500 personnel of Special Reserve Police to deal with the situation, which was 'tense but under control,' Union Home Secretary Vinod Kumar Duggal said.
The Home secretary was briefing reporters after his telephonic talks with the state chief secretaries and police chiefs to take stock of the situation arising out of the blasts in Mushaira Chowk and Kabristan localities around 1350 hours.
To a specific question whether the government saw any link between the recent Mumbai serial blasts and Friday's incident, he said: "It is too early to blame anybody or establish a pattern as no one has claimed the responsibility so far."
Duggal said it was also too premature to say about the blast material but initial reports suggested that the explosive at Mushaira Chowk was tied to a bicycle. "But nothing can be said with certainty still," he said.
Another report suggests that a beggar girl was carrying a tin, which perhaps contained some explosives, he said, adding that the Centre was awaiting a detailed report from the state government.
A team of National Bomb Data Centre of elite National Security Guard had been rushed to the spot to confirm the nature of explosives used.
About a stone-pelting incident at Azad Nagar in Malegaon, he said, those who were aggrieved will agitate but the Centre and the state government were aware of the problem and all precautionary steps had been taken to prevent any communal flare-up.
"We have sensitised the state government and political leaders to keep a watch on all anti-national elements so that communal harmony is not disturbed," he said.
