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March 7, 2006

India: Suspected Islamists Bomb Hindu Holy Site - Fifteen Dead

Reports from the Times and Rediff.com describe the carnage and panic caused when three bombs in quick succession went off at Varanasi, a sacred city to Hindus, and popular with backpackers.

Varanasi, 450 miles east of Delhi, lies on the banks of the Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the north of the country. Most of those killed were at the Sankat Mochan temple, which was crowded with pilgrims and celebrants, at around 6.30 pm local time. The worshippers were making evening offerings to Hanuman, the monkey god. At least ten people died in the temple blast, and about 40 were injured. The floor of the temple was strewn with body parts and blood.

Ten minutes after, at least two were killed and panic ensued when another explosion happened beside a ticket/inquiry counter at the local railway station. Another bomb went off by the station master's office. Five people were reported killed at the train station, and twenty injured (picture of station, below).

As a train, the Shivganga Express, set off from the station, filled with pilgrims travelling to New Delhi for a festival, Holi, on March 15, a blast ripped through one of the carriages.

A live bomb was discovered in Gudaulia, a residential district, but it was defused by the bomb squad. The BBC states that two unexploded devices were discovered.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Navneet Sikera lay suspicion for the attacks upon Islamic terrorists. "I would not be surprised if it were some kind of a retaliatory act by Lashkar-e-Taiba, as we had nabbed one of their agents in Varanasi in February," he said.

Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of the Islamic terror groups which seeks to wrest control of Indian Kashmir (Jammu & Kashmir state) and make it a Muslim enclave, was the terrorist group responsible for the triple blast at New Delhi on October 29 last year. At first Lashkar-e-Taiba denied responsibility, and even went as far as to offer "condolences" to the 60 dead in these blasts, but later admitted responsibility.

The 68-year old high priest at Sankot Mochan temple, Dr Veer Bhadra Mishra, said in an interview: "There was a marriage celebration going on at the time of the explosions. I have heard that litres of blood have been spilt there.

This should not happen in a holy place. I cannot emphasise how special this temple is. Now, thousands of people are standing at the gate crying and screaming. None of them are allowed inside."

Rediff.com states that twenty people have been killed in this evening's blasts.

Keywords: Lashkar-e-Toiba, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Toyba

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 7, 2006 2:20 PM

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