Terror strikes Varanasi; 28 killed, no claim yet (Update)

Hindustan Times ^ | March 7, 2006 | Prabhu Razdan

[indcons]

Two powerful bombs went off within minutes of each other — at the famous Sankat Mochan temple and the Cantonment Railway Station — in Varanasi on Tuesday evening, killing at least 28 people and injuring 100 others.

Late-night reports said the death toll could be higher.

The first blast took place at the Sankat Mochan temple, near the Banaras Hindu University, around 6.15 pm. About 3,000 devotees had assembled at the temple to offer Tuesday aarti. At least four persons died on the spot. The bomb is believed to have been kept in a box.

Eyewitnesses said the blast created a stampede-like situation, with people running in panic. They gave accounts of a gory sight: blood on the floor and flesh strewn all over. They said many of the injured simply collapsed and had to be carried out.

The injured were taken to the nearby BHU hospital and other private hospitals. One of the injured has been identified as Qamar-ud-Din. Following the blast, the temple was sealed.

Around 20 minutes later, another powerful bomb rocked the waiting room on platform number one at the Cantonment Station. The Delhi-bound Shiv-Ganga Express, scheduled to leave at 7 pm, was at the platform. Reports said at least 10 were killed and over 40 people were critically injured in the blast. The impact of the blast was such that it left a crater on the platform. "The entire place shook and soon there was flesh and blood lying everywhere," said a survivor. "It was a terrible scene. Five-six bodies were lying nearby."

Sources said the administration suspects RDX was used in the blasts - indicating involvement of terrorist organisations. However, till late night no group had claimed responsibility.

Even as the city was reeling from the shock, more live bombs were recovered -- from Gyanvapi Complex, from a restaurant in the Dashashwamedh area and two from the Cantonment Station restaurant. They were said to be timer devices.

Soon after the blasts, the city felt the after-effects: shopkeepers downed shutters and people started raising anti-Pakistan slogans, raising fears of a communal flare-up.

Additional policemen have been deployed in public places and vital installations, including airport, railway stations and bus stands, sources said. Patrolling has also been intensified throughout the city as precautionary measure.

The security has also been stepped up in and around the sensitive Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Gyanvapi Mosque and additional forces have been deployed to monitor the activities of anti-social elements, sources said.

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav condemned the blasts and announced a relief of Rs 5 lakh for the family of the deceased.

In Delhi, Union Home Secretary VK Duggal told reporters that the pattern of the Varanasi blasts was similar to the pre-Diwali serial explosions in Delhi last year.

President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and appealed to the people to maintain peace. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil rushed to Varanasi late in the night.

Immediately after the blasts, the police were put on high alert in several parts of the country.

(With inputs from Delhi)

[indcons]

Must be those Buddhists!! /sarc

[Ouderkirk]

already posted


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1591813/posts

[b4its2late]

Lemme guess. Christians gone crazy in India.

[Jack Hammer]

Despicable.

[indcons]

Different source, headline, and casualty figures. That's the reason I posted this story.

[mosquewatch.com]

I recorded this Muslim in a chat room saying it's perfectly acceptable to behead non Muslims and to Slaughter us if we are "at war with Islam and Muslim." He conveniantly left out the part where Islam is always at a state of war with Non Muslim and Non Islamic lands.

http://ia300202.us.archive.org/2/items/UnKnownJihadonPaltalk/islamkillkafir.wma

[indcons]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/07/AR2006030700961.html

"Situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh about 400 miles southeast of New Delhi, the historic, densely packed city of Varanasi is sometimes called the "Hindu Jerusalem" to underscore its religious significance....[snip]

"Some analysts saw a possible connection between the bombings and Hindu-Muslim clashes in the city of Lucknow Friday that left four people dead. The clashes grew out of Muslim protests against Bush." [snip]

[indcons]

Very useful link....thanks for posting.

[indcons]

[samadams2000]

Those crazy mad cap muslies. Killing themselves again are they?

[indcons]

I wish they killed each other instead of kiling "infidels"....that muslim who was injured in the blast may well turn out to be of the the perps. Got to wait and watch.

Apparently, the state govt. knew about the likelyhood of attacks on this temple. However, they decided not to do anything about it for fear of antagonizing their primarily-muslim vote bank.

[WVNan]

How did I know that it was Bush's fault?

[indcons]

Everything in the world incl. Islam's debauchery is Bush's fault!! /dripping sarcasm

[WVNan]

Yep. I know one thing for sure. It's going to take something that is too horrific to comprehend to change the thinking and actions of radical Islamists. They are not going to change because of our military, or because of world opinion. And they sure aren't going to change if we are nice to them. It's going to take the fear of God put into them, whether from atomic bombs or overwhelming military defeat without mercy.

[Angus MacGregor]

Norwegians...

[indcons]

http://web.archive.org/web/20041024220339/http://www.islam.org.au/articles/18/identity.htm.old

FReeper Fred Nerks posted this link on a different thread. A long article but worth reading for those who wish to understand the essential stupidity of Islam. I hadn't read it before and was shocked to see the list of activities that are considered to be non-Islamic. How can civilized people coexist with these barbarians?

Some excerpts:

"The educat ion system is typically where the indoctrination process begins. Muslim school children are sent off by their parents to Kafir schools with good intentions of an education and a chance at a better life (in this world, at least). The children are placed in an environment where the mixing of sexes is not only tolerated but encouraged through the placement of children in multi-gender sporting teams and class groups." [snip]

"For example Superman, where people in need call out to this caped Kafir in his underwear to save the day with his god-like powers. How many Muslim children spend their formative years acting out imagined scenes from Superman or other simila r cartoons? This is something in direct opposition to the principles of Tawheed that we, as Muslims, should seek the help of Allah alone."

"It is a fact of life that we must, to some extent, keep close company with the Kuffar. This is almost unavoidable given that we work, study and, unfortunately, play with them. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said that whoever is with a people for 40 days or more begins to take on some of their characteristics. As such, we must be very careful of mixing with the Kuffar because, whether we realise it or not, we are assuming some of their behaviour and beliefs."

"Often the first thing Muslims will modify is their style of dress. Whilst a seemingly trivial change, it often represents more than what it seems. When a Muslim sees the Kafirs dressed in a certain way, and chooses to imitate them to 'fit in ', it's a compromise."

"The Prophet manifested this saying in all areas of his life. The jews used to remove their shoes while praying, so he said: "Pray while wearing your footgear, contradict the jews". The Kuffar would shave their beards, so he commanded: "Contradict the Mushriks: let your beards grow and trim your moustaches"."

[mosquewatch.com]

Your welcome, I hear this kind of message all the time. I don't see how they get away with it. We are monitered closely what we say, if we dare even break "G" rating with a word like Dam* we get banned for 24 hours or accounts shut down completely.

Jeff

[Fred Nerks]

...now there's the REAL voice of islam! I'm saving the link. If ever I run across another apologist on FR, I'll pin his ears back with it.

[Fred Nerks]

#6 -there's an audio link here you must not miss!

[Hill of Tara]

India should expel the Muslim barbarians. I doubt they are loyal to India anyway. They are like a cancer within India.