'Prime suspects' held for Bombay blasts

Police in the city have been on high alert since the blasts

Police in India have arrested several suspects in connection with last week's twin car bomb blasts in Bombay (Mumbai), which killed more than 50 people.

Two of the men detained were described as "prime suspects".

Police in Bombay - India's financial capital - said they had obtained vital clues from the registration numbers of the two taxis used in the blasts and from information provided by one of the surviving taxi drivers.

However, the police refused to give the names of the suspects saying it could jeopardise the investigation.

"The police are working on all the investigation angles and at this stage it would not be right to speak much on it," senior local government official Kripashankar Singh was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

India has blamed Monday's attacks on an outlawed Islamic militant group - Lashkar-e-Toiba - in the Pakistani-controlled part of the disputed state of Kashmir.

Delhi also demanded that Islamabad hand over 19 suspects wanted in connection with other attacks.

Pakistan has denied giving shelter to any such suspects.

Festival security

The police in Bombay have remained on high alert since the twin blasts.

This year's festival is being held amid tight police security

On Sunday, more than 20,000 police officers have been deployed for the opening of the Hindu festival marking the birth of the God Ganesh, which attracts huge crowds every year.

They are being helped by about 60,000 civilian volunteers who have come forward after an appeal by the local authorities to help keep the police maintain security.

Thousands of people began pouring on the streets of the city since early morning, dancing and beating drums in celebration.

Many were carrying colourful statues and cut-outs of the elephant-headed god.