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{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2012 Pune bombings
| image_size = 250px
| image = 2012 Pune bombings map.png
| caption = Map of the 2012 Pune attacks showing the principal targets numbered: (1) Balgandharva Auditorium, (2) Near Dena Bank, JM Road, (3) McDonald's restaurant, (4) near Garware Bridge.
{{Location map|India|label=Pune|mark=Green_pog.svg|lat=18.5|long=73.85|width=250|float=center}}
| date = 1 August 2012
| timezone = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]], [[UTC+05:30]]
| type = [[Bombings]]
| fatalities = None reported
| injuries = 1
| perps =
| location = Multiple locations at [[Roads in Pune#Jangli Maharaj Road (J. M. Road)|J.M. Road, Pune, Maharashtra, India]].
| Defenders =
| motive = To avenge the murder at Pune's [[Yerwada Jail]] of Qatil Siddiqui, who was an accused in the [[German Bakery blast]] case<ref name="Another Suspected IM Militant Held in Pune Blasts Case"/><ref name="Letter had warned of attack to avenge Qateel's death: Maharashtra home minister"/>
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
The '''2012 Pune bombings''' was a series of four coordinated<ref name="Zee1"/> low-intensity bombing attacks that occurred on 1 August 2012 across [[Pune]],<ref name="Hindu1"/><ref name="FP1"/> the [[List of most populous cities in India|ninth-largest metropolis]] in [[India]].<ref name=2011city>{{cite web|title=Cities having population 1 lakh and above|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf|work=censusindia|publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|access-date=18 October 2011}}</ref> As of October 2012, [[Indian Mujahideen]], a terrorist group based in India, is suspected to be behind the attacks.<ref name="Another Suspected IM Militant Held in Pune Blasts Case"/><ref name="Pune serial blasts case ‘cracked,’ three held"/>

The explosions occurred at locations within a radius of 1 km in Jangli Maharaj Road: in front of Balgandharva Auditorium, opposite to [[KFC]] restaurant near Garware Bridge, Dena Bank branch at [[Roads in Pune#Jangli Maharaj Road (J. M. Road)|Jangli Maharaj Road]], and in front of a [[McDonald's]] restaurant.<ref name=NDTV1/> A fifth live bomb found on JM Road was later defused.<ref name=FP1/> The bombs left one injured. All blasts occurred between 7:27 pm and 8:15 pm.<ref name="FP1">{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/pune-blasts-live-all-blasts-occurred-within-1-km-radius-says-chavan-400853.html|publisher=Firstpost.com|title=Pune blasts live: All blasts occurred within 1 km radius, says Chavan|date=1 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiavision.com/news/article/topnews/330499/four-blasts-in-pune-one-injured-on-a-night-when-sushil-shinde-home-minister-was-expected/|title=Four blasts in Pune, one injured, on a night when Sushil Shinde, Home minister was expected|date=1 August 2012|publisher=Indiavision news|access-date=2 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126045844/http://www.indiavision.com/news/article/topnews/330499/four-blasts-in-pune-one-injured-on-a-night-when-sushil-shinde-home-minister-was-expected/|archive-date=26 January 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The bombings took place on the evening when the new Home Minister [[Sushil Kumar Shinde]] was scheduled to visit the [[Tilak Smarak Ranga Mandir]], a play theatre in the city, for an award ceremony.<ref name="NDTV1">{{cite news|title=Three explosions reported from Pune; 'not ruling out anything' say cops|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/two-low-intensity-explosions-reported-in-pune-250170|access-date=1 August 2012|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=1 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=DNA1/>

==Victims==
Dayanand Bhaurao Patil (age 34), a local tailor, was the only one who was injured.<ref name="Zee1">{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/pune-rocked-by-serial-bomb-blasts-high-alert-in-maharashtra_791172.html|title=Pune rocked by serial bomb blasts; high alert in Maharashtra|publisher=Zee News|date=1 August 2012}}</ref> The bomb went off while he was handling the bag. Patil, with minor injuries on his face and stomach, was admitted to [[Sasoon Hospital]]<ref name=DNA1/> and was later interrogated by the police as a suspect. Patil was carrying the explosives in a cake box with sticky material, two detonators and a pencil cell.<ref name=Hindu1>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article3713166.ece?homepage=true|title=Four low-intensity blasts in Pune; one injured|work=The Hindu|date=1 August 2012|location=Chennai, India|first1=Amruta|last1=Byatnal|first2=Sandeep|last2=Joshi}}</ref><ref name=IBN1/> According to his initial statement, Patil, on his way home, had stopped at Balgandharva Auditorium to listen to the speeches at the [[2011 Indian anti-corruption movement|protest against corruption]] organised by [[India Against Corruption]] with his bag containing his lunchbox besides him. When he stood up to leave, he claimed that he must have picked up the wrong bag. After walking for some time, when he realised this and opened the bag, it exploded.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-02/india/33000053_1_blasts-first-bomb-terror-angle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803065226/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-02/india/33000053_1_blasts-first-bomb-terror-angle|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Pune hit by four blasts hours after Shinde takes over as home minister|date=1 August 2012}}</ref>

==Speculations==
The [[Police Commissioner]] of Pune suggested that given the low intensity of the blast and extent of damage, the attacks were rather a mischief than a terrorist attack. However, given the sophisticated circuitry used in the devices, central agencies suspected the role of an terrorist organisation.<ref name="Hindu1"/> It was also speculated that the bombings may have been carried out to avenge the murder of [[Indian Mujahideen]] commander Qateel Siddiqui or to avenge a central government recommendation that the ban on [[Students Islamic Movement of India|SIMI]] be extended for a few more years.<ref name="TOI1"/> Qateel Siddiqui, named in [[2010 Pune bombings]], [[2010 Jama Masjid attack]] and [[2005 Indian Institute of Science shooting]], was murdered at Pune's [[Yerwada Jail]] in June 2012. Few days ago, the [[Pune]] police had received a letter saying Qateel's death would be avenged.<ref name="Letter had warned of attack to avenge Qateel's death: Maharashtra home minister">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-03/india/33019100_1_dayanand-patil-pune-police-maharashtra-home-minister|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906080513/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-03/india/33019100_1_dayanand-patil-pune-police-maharashtra-home-minister|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-06|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Letter had warned of attack to avenge Qateel's death: Maharashtra home minister}}</ref>

==Investigations==
The Anti-Terrorism Squad of the [[Maharashtra Police]] promptly started investigation of the blasts.<ref name=NDTV1/> Eyewitnesses reported that the bombs were placed in a garbage can and a cycle carrier.<ref name="IBN1">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/three-minor-blasts-in-pune-one-injured/277267-3-237.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803022137/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/three-minor-blasts-in-pune-one-injured/277267-3-237.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2012|title=Four minor blasts in Pune, one injured|date=1 August 2012|publisher=CNN-IBN|access-date=1 August 2012}}</ref> The blasts were of such low intensity that members of [[India Against Corruption]] who were sitting for an ''[[2011 Indian anti-corruption movement|andolan]]'' nearby did not know of the blast till the bomb disposal squad arrived.

The [[National Investigation Agency]] (NIA) and the [[National Security Guards]] (NSG) were alerted following the blasts<ref name="IBN1"/> and NIA teams were dispatched to Pune and [[Mumbai]].

[[Ammonium nitrate]] was found to have been used as explosives, with 9 volts batteries as triggers.<ref name="DNA1">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/commentary_live-5-blasts-in-pune-6th-bomb-diffused-ammonium-nitrate-9-volt-batteries-used_1722867|title=Live: 4 blasts in Pune, 5th bomb defused; ammonium nitrate, 9 volt batteries used|publisher=DNA|date=1 August 2012}}</ref> A total of seven [[Improvised explosive device|IEDs]] were used in the blasts.<ref name=FP1/> Initially, the bomb disposal squad experts suggested that the moist weather may have reduced the intensity of the blasts.<ref name=DNA1/> However, upon further investigation, it was found that while the bombs had been constructed to cause maximum damage and take many lives, a design flaw had prevented them from fully exploding.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-02/india/33000176_1_serial-blasts-police-bomb-experts-detonators|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502015643/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-02/india/33000176_1_serial-blasts-police-bomb-experts-detonators|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 May 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Bomb design flaw averted major tragedy in Pune|date=2 August 2012}}</ref>

There were no individual suspects even on 2 August, primarily due to the fact that the [[CCTV]] cameras near the blast sites were non-functional.<ref name="Hindu2">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3716887.ece|title=CCTV cameras at Pune blast sites non-functional|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 August 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> However, the use of bicycles and triggers suggested the possible involvement of [[Indian Mujahideen]].<ref name="DB1">{{cite news|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-pune-serial-blasts-prime-accused-gets-clean-chit-cops-still-clueless-3603667-NOR.html|title=Pune blasts LIVE: Evidence hints at Indian Mujahideen hand in attack|work=Daily Bhaskar|date=2 August 2012}}</ref>

The Pune Police was criticised for mishandling the evidence at the crime scene. Photographs showed cops lifting the bicycle used for the blasts with their bare hands, contaminating the fingerprints on the cycle. Gloves were not used by many cops while searching the crime scene. Policemen were seen searching for evidence with [[bullet proof vest]]s, when they should have been using [[bomb suit]]s and explosive trace detectors.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pune-blasts-callous-cops-mishandle-key-evidence/278150-3-237.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126143921/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pune-blasts-callous-cops-mishandle-key-evidence/278150-3-237.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2013|publisher=CNN-IBN|date=3 August 2012|title=Pune blasts: Callous cops mishandle key evidence}}</ref>

By 3 August, based on the leads obtained from the owner of a cycle shop that had sold the bikes, the investigators were looking for two suspects aged between 25 and 30 who spoke Hindi and Gujarati,.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pune-probe-focuses-on-two-men-who-bought-cycles-spoke-hindi-gujarati/983142/0|title=Pune probe focuses on two men who bought cycles, spoke Hindi, Gujarati|work=The Indian Express|date=3 August 2012}}</ref> While inspecting CCTV footage, investigators found a man, closely resembling Yasin Bhatkal, Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative, coming on a bicycle and parking it opposite the Sai Service petrol pump.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-11/pune/33152465_1_cctv-footage-german-bakery-blast-bomb-planters |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120812044251/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-11/pune/33152465_1_cctv-footage-german-bakery-blast-bomb-planters |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 August 2012 |work= [[The Times of India]] |title= Yasin Bhatkal one of the August 1 Pune bombers?|date=11 August 2012 }}</ref>

=== Arrests ===
As of 27 December 2012, a total of ''eight'' suspected [[Indian Mujahideen]] (IM) terrorists have been arrested. The arrestees are:<ref name="Another Suspected IM Militant Held in Pune Blasts Case">{{cite news|title=Another Suspected IM Militant Held in Pune Blasts Case|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=778432|access-date=17 October 2012|newspaper=Outlook India|date=17 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021145650/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=778432|archive-date=21 October 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Pune Blasts Planned After Murder of Terror Accused">{{cite news|title=Pune Blasts Planned After Murder of Terror Accused|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=785043|access-date=27 December 2012|newspaper=OUTLOOK India|date=27 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315044539/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=785043|archive-date=15 March 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Pune blasts: Key IM suspect arrested">{{cite news|title=Pune blasts: Key IM suspect arrested|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pune-blasts-key-im-suspect-arrested_807675.html|access-date=26 October 2012|newspaper=Zee News|date=26 October 2012}}</ref>
* Langde Irfan – allegedly an expert in computer and brother-in-law of one of the Pune blast accused, Asad Khan,<ref name="Another Suspected IM Militant Held in Pune Blasts Case"/>
* Asad Khan – allegedly a recruiter, motivator and [[ideologue]] of IM,<ref name="Pune serial blasts case ‘cracked,’ three held"/>
* Imran Khan<ref name="Pune serial blasts case ‘cracked,’ three held"/>
* Syed Firoze – one of the planters<ref name="Pune serial blasts case ‘cracked,’ three held"/><ref name="Pune Blasts Planned After Murder of Terror Accused"/>
* Sayed Maqbool alias Zuber, a [[history-sheeter]], accused of making the [[Improvised explosive device|IEDs]] used in the blasts.<ref name="5th arrest in Pune blast case, cops say IM planned fidayeen attack on Bodh Gaya">{{cite news|title=5th arrest in Pune blast case, cops say IM planned fidayeen attack on Bodh Gaya|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_5th-arrest-in-pune-blast-case-im-planned-fidayeen-attack-police_1756438|access-date=26 October 2012|newspaper=DNA|date=26 October 2012}}</ref>
* Sayyed Arif alias Kashif Biyabani – identified potential recruits for IM<ref name="Pune Blasts Planned After Murder of Terror Accused"/>
* Munib Iqbal Memon – purchased the SIM cards for phones used in the blasts<ref name="Pune Blasts Planned After Murder of Terror Accused"/>
* Farooq Bagwan – purchased the SIM cards for phones used in the blasts<ref name="Pune Blasts Planned After Murder of Terror Accused"/>

[[Delhi Police]] said that many of the arrestees confessed of their involvement in the blasts.<ref name="Another Suspected IM Militant Held in Pune Blasts Case"/><ref name="Pune serial blasts case ‘cracked,’ three held">{{cite news|title=Pune serial blasts case 'cracked,' three held|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/three-suspected-indian-mujahideen-terrorists-held-in-delhi/article3987241.ece?homepage=true|access-date=17 October 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=11 October 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[2010 Pune bombing]]
* [[List of terrorist incidents, 2012]]
* [[Terrorism in India]]
* [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
* [[Alfred Herrhausen]] - only previously known case of a [[bicycle bomb]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Pune topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pune bombings}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Explosions in 2012, Terrorist incidents in India in 2012, History of Pune, Improvised explosive device bombings in India, Crime in Maharashtra, Indian Mujahideen attacks, History of Maharashtra (1947–present), Attacks on restaurants in Asia, Attacks on buildings and structures in India, Building bombings in India
|description=
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[[Category:Explosions in 2012]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2012]]
[[Category:History of Pune]]
[[Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in India]]
[[Category:Crime in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian Mujahideen attacks]]
[[Category:History of Maharashtra (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Attacks on restaurants in Asia]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in India]]
[[Category:Building bombings in India]]

2012 Pune bombings - Revision history

MetaBOT at 17:50, 8 July 2023