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September 8, 2006
India: Mosque Explosions Cause At Least Twenty Deaths
News coming in from DNA India, Forbes, Reuters AlertNet and the Times report that at leas 20 people have been killed today, in explosions at a mosque in Maharashtra state. The explosions took place at a market area near a mosque and also outside the mosque in Malegaon in the district of Nashik, which lies 160 miles northeast of Mumbai, scene of a series of train bombings on July 11 which killed more than 250 people.
Today is a special day in the Muslim calendar, called Shab-e-Barat, or the "Night of Fortune", a pre-Ramadan festival when sins are thought to be forgiven through prayer. Fireworks are set off and sweets are given out.
L.N. Chauhan, chief medical officer of Wadia hospital, said that "My people are telling me that there are around 20-plus bodies lying inside the (hospital) campus. Around 150 patients had been brought to our hospital and we treated some of them and sent the rest to (the city's two) other hospitals."
There has been inter-faith sectarian violence in Malegaon before, with riots between Hindus and Muslims in 1984 and 2001.
We will report later on this story when more details are known.
UPDATE: The Indian Prime Minister had warned on Tuesday (5 September) that more terror attacks were imminent, and he said that economic, religious, and nuclear sites could be targets. For reports on his speech see Voice of America News and India Defence.com.
The death toll in the Malegaon blasts appear to have risen to 31, though one report from the Press Trust of India in the Hindu downplayed the casualty figure, stating that 10 people had died. The Guardian and the Washington Post and Associated Press via Chron.com have placed the death toll as 31. Up to 100 people have been injured, with 56 of these said to be in a serious condition.
Officials have said that there were two bombs, both of which had been attached to bicycles. The first bomb went off in a graveyard, and the second one went off nearby. The third blast took place in the square at Malegaon. The city is a textile town, and has a population of 500,000, 75% of whom are Muslim.
During Shab-e-Barat, worshippers traditionally go to graveyards where they offer prayers for the sold of dead relatives.
PS Pasricha, Maharashta state's director-general of police said: "Law and order is under control. There's a high alert across the state. We have activated all police machinery to ensure that communal harmony is maintained."
The national Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, R R Patil, and also Nasik (Nashik) Range Inspector General of Police P K Jain are said to be travelling to the city. Members of the ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) are said to be on their way to examine the blast scene.
Earlier, when police tried to approach the blast sites, locals tried to prevent them, and also some shops were damaged in disturbances. Paramalitaries have also been dispatched to Malegaon, to maintain law and order.
The office of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that he "appealed for peace and communal harmony and has urged all citizens across the country to remain calm."
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 8, 2006 8:23 AM
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