NEW DELHI: Mr Gandhi today [Jan 20] had a narrow escape when a crude bomb, which was presumably aimed at him, failed to reach its target by only 15 yards. It fell a little distance away from the congregation and exploded with a loud noise, damaging a part of the wall of the bricl(-walled enclosure where Mr Gandhi holds his prayers. ... No one was injured.

The prayer meeting [had] started as usual at 5 p.m. Mr Gandhi being still weak was carried to the meeting in an armchair. After the recitation of verses from the various scriptures, Bhajan and the `Ram Dhun` Mr Gandhi began addressing the congregation. ..

When he had spoken for about ten minutes an explosion occurred and the whole congregation was startled. Immediately the entire area was covered with smoke. But Mr Gandhi remained unperturbed and continued his speech.

A maid-servant, who was near the scene and who claims to have seen the incident told an AFP reporter that she saw four men driving in a jeep... . One of the men alighted from the jeep and hurriedly threw the explosive from behind the enclosure where Mr Gandhi was sitting. News agencies