The country has witnessed 64 serial blasts in six states in less than six months leaving 215 people dead and nearly 900 injured.

But, like before, Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Thursday parroted his usual response saying "these are cowardly acts perpetrated by the elements which do not want peace to prevail..."

His assessment this time came shortly after serial blasts ripped Assam.

The trend of serial blasts in quick succession began with the multiple explosions in Jaipur in May 2008 when nine blasts rocked the Pink city killing 65 people and 150 injured.

"Their aim (to create communal disturbances) has been thwarted. The people of Jaipur have not allowed their nefarious design to succeed," Patil had said then.

This was followed by nine blasts in Bangalore after which the Home Ministry came out with a statement "such incidents will not deter the government from pursuing its policy with anti-national elements in a resolute manner."

A day after Bangalore blasts, 18 explosions shook Ahmedabad killing 57 people and injuring 130 others and the statement from the Ministry was "anti-national elements have been trying to create panic among the people in our country".

As terror spread its tentacles to the national capital which was rocked by six serial blasts killing 26 people and 50 others, the Ministry said "the government has taken a series of measures recently to beef up security in Delhi. Whatever more is required to be done will be done expeditiously."

Thee were four serial blasts in Tripura too during this period.

After Thursday's 18 blasts in Assam, Patil said it was a handiwork of those who did not want peace to prevail.