Emergency declared in Sri Lanka; the number of dead crosses 290, 8 Indi

Colombo: The number of people killed in the Sunday serial blasts, in Sri Lanka, has reached 290. One more planned saboteur activity was busted with the seizure of 87 detonators from the bus depot in capital Colombo. But this has made the security conditions critical, and therefore, Sri Lankan President Maitripala Sirisena declared emergency in the country, from Monday midnight. The Sri Lankan government has expressed a strong possibility of the hand of the extremist organisation National Tauheed Jamaat (NTJ), in the Sunday blasts. The terrorist organisation ‘IS’ has welcomed the attacks in Sri Lanka and said that this was a retaliation against the attacks on Muslims and Mosques.

The number of people killed in the 8 bomb blasts and a suicide attack has reached 290, and Sri Lanka is still recovering from the shock. More panic spread when 87 detonators were seized, at the bus station in Colombo and a pipe bomb was found near the airport. Therefore, curfew which had been withdrawn was clamped once again. In that, Sri Lankan President Maitripala Sirisena declared emergency from Monday midnight.

The US State Department has warned of the possibility, of more attacks in Sri Lanka. The US State Department has issued an advisory for its citizens saying that crowded places, shopping malls and places of tourist interest can be targeted. 35 foreigners were killed in the Sunday blasts. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj informed that there were 8 Indian citizens among the dead.

A meticulous investigation is being carried out by the Sri Lankan security agencies, following the blasts and 24 people have been arrested, so far. It is said that there are people from the religious minorities in Sri Lanka. But the Sri Lankan agencies refused to reveal any details. The government agency has expressed a strong possibility of the NTJ hand, behind the blasts and the suicide attack. The Sri Lankan agencies also claimed that although the blasts have been carried out by Sri Lankan citizens, a foreign hand cannot be ruled out.

Meanwhile, the infamous terrorist organisation ‘IS’ has justified the bomb blasts. IS claimed that this was retaliation against the attacks on the Muslims and the Mosques.It also declared support to the people who carried out the blasts. The Indian Coast Guard has been placed on High Alert, in view of the sabotage in Sri Lanka. This precaution is being taken, to ensure that these terrorists are not able to enter India, under any circumstances.