The Indian Mujahideen (IM), in its signature style, has sent out e-mails to media organisations claiming responsibility for the blast.
A medium intensity bomb went off at a crowded ghat in the holy city of Varanasi on Tuesday evening, a day after the anniversary of the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya, killing an 18-month-old girl apart from injuring 30 others, including foreigners.
The Indian Mujahideen (IM), in its signature style, has sent out e-mails to media organisations claiming responsibility for the blast.
The e-mail arrived at 6.56pm, immediately after the blast, which occurred at 6.35pm near the famous Dasashwamedh Ghat. Sources said the explosive had been planted in a milk container.
However, an official said the explosive had been lodged in a wedge between some broken stones on the ghat stairs to ensure maximum damage.
Two live explosive devices were recovered from the spot. Officials said the blast was so intense that houses in half a km area around the ghat shook when it went off.
Sometime ago, the IM had warned that it would mount an attack to mark the December 6, 1992, demolition. The security and police forces had been put on high alert on the occasion. However, the IM conspirators proved to be one-up on the men in uniform, setting off the blast a day after it was anticipated.
The blast came even as the district police and administration officials were busy congratulating each other at a tea party organised to celebrate the “success” in keeping the peace on the day of the anniversary.
“The blast is an attempt to weaken our resolve by the evil forces of terrorism, in which the terrorists will not succeed,” prime minister Manmohan Singh said.
“Fortunately, the damage was limited as the crowd which turned up for the special ‘Ganga arti’ held on Tuesdays was quite sparse due to the December 6 alert,” Varanasi city SP Vijay Bhushan told reporters. Normally, there are over 2,500 people at this ghat for the ‘arti’ but this Tuesday, the crowd was less than 500, he said.
An 18-month-old girl died in the blast, a senior police officer confirmed to DNA. “The blast was meant to target foreigners apparently to get international attention,” the official said. At least four foreigners were hurt. An Italianreceived serious injuries as he was quite close to the explosive device.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}