Patna blasts: Terrorists codenamed Modi 'Machli 5'

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was reportedly a target of the serial blasts in Patna and his code name was Machli 5, sources said told CNN-IBN. The police and NIA sources have told CNN-IBN that “a total of 18 bombs were planted in Gandhi Maidan, which was the venue of Modi’s Hunkaar rally”. [caption id=“attachment_1202241” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Narendra Modi. AP[/caption] Narendra Modi will visit Bihar again on 2 November to meet the families of the six victims of the Patna serial blasts, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said on Wednesday. Sources told CNN-IBN that “students residing in some hostels were paid Rs 10,000 each to plant the bombs. The idea was to create a stampede and lead to a huge loss of life”. Serial blasts had rocked Modi’s ‘Hunkar Rally’ at the historic Gandhi Maidan on 27 October, in which six persons were killed and 82 others sustained injuries. Congress had criticised Modi for going ahead with the Patna rally despite the blasts, saying, “After an event like this happens, you should give up whatever happens." Police are still on the lookout for unexploded bombs at the Gandhi Maidan. An NSG team was also rushed to Patna to carry out a post blast exercise and collected samples of materials used in the explosions at the Gandhi Maidan and the Patna railway junction, Goswami said. With agency inputs