Posted on 10/29/2005 10:58:52 AM PDT by indcons
A series of explosions rocked Delhi on Saturday evening, killing at least 65 people and leaving scores injured, some of them critically.
As many as 20 people have been killed in an explosion in Sarojini Nagar market and 15 others have reportedly been killed in Paharganj.
The markets were filled with shoppers doing their last-minute purchases for Diwali.
Most of those injured or killed in the explosions were ordinary people out shopping in the festival season.
Suspects detained
At least ten people have been detained following the three blasts in Delhi.
Five of them were picked up from the New Delhi Railway station and others from other railway stations and bus terminals.
It is now believed that high explosive devices suspected to be RDX were used in carrying out the blasts.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a statement from Kolkata said the blasts are a clear case of terrorism.
"No terrorist can win against India. India will win the battle against terrorism," the Prime Minister said.
Red alert sounded
A red alert has been sounded across several places in the country including neighbouring Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil called a high-level emergency meeting at 9 pm (IST) to review the situation and discuss security operations.
National Security Adviser, M K Naraynan, Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi, Home Secretary V K Duggal and Delhi Chief Secretary S Regunathan also attended the meeting.
The Home Minister said it was too early to pinpoint who was responsible for the blasts.
"As to who is responsible for the blasts, we will not like to jump to any conclusion. The first priority is to give relief and succour to those affected by the blasts," the Home Minister said.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi visited the injured in hospitals. Extending her condolences to the families of those killed in the blasts, she described the incidents as acts of terrorism.
"Terrorism is a menace that we all have to face and fight together. This is not only a phenomenon here in our country. This is something that the whole world has to face. It is important that we all together fight it together," said Gandhi.
Series of blasts
People have been urged to remain calm and move away from crowded markets. Police have ordered all markets in the city to shut down.
The first blast took place in the main bazaar of Paharganj outside the New Delhi Railway Station at 5:38 pm (IST).
The explosion ripped apart the medical shop outside which the explosive device was planted in a two-wheeler.
Scores of people have been injured in the explosion, eyewitnesses said.
"I was talking to a client when the blast took place. The blast took place about 20 metres away. Right after the blast, people were running here and there," said Sajjan Singh, shopkeeper, Paharganj.
"My son was right behind me, he was injured in the head and in the smoke I couldn't see where he fell," said Joseph George, another shopkeeper.
The police later barricaded the area and a shop-to-shop search was carried out for any more explosives.
Innocents killed
Around half an hour later, at 6:05 pm (IST), the second explosion took place in the busy Sarojini Nagar market in south Delhi.
Diwali and Eid shoppers were making their last minute shopping when the bomb went off.
"There was a huge explosion as if LPG cylinders had gone off, it wasn't clear what happened. The market was very crowded," said an eyewitness.
Almost instantly, a fire broke out and spread quickly. Within minutes, the fire trucks reached the market and it took 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control.
"The market was completely crowded, there was no place to move. I was standing outside my shop when the blast took place. Ten people died immediately," said a shopkeeper.
Blast in Govindpuri
Another explosion was reported from Govindpuri in south Delhi. The explosion took place inside a bus, and four people have been critically injured.
There were at least 35-40 people travelling on a bus through Govindpuri when the conductor spotted a suspicious looking plastic bag on the bus that did not belong to any of the passengers.
He immediately asked all the passengers to get out of the bus.
"If it wasn't for the conductor and the driver, all the passengers would've died, I want to know what happened to them, I am grateful to them," said Afzal, an injured passenger.
There were just five people on board when the blast rattled the bus. But quick thinking and equally fast reaction of both the driver and the conductor saved the day for the passengers.
Both the driver and the conductor suffered injuries. The driver is in a critical state.
Please pray for the victims and the injured.
From the article: "There were at least 35-40 people travelling on a bus through Govindpuri when the conductor spotted a suspicious looking plastic bag on the bus that did not belong to any of the passengers. He immediately asked all the passengers to get out of the bus. < snip> There were just five people on board when the blast rattled the bus. But quick thinking and equally fast reaction of both the driver and the conductor saved the day for the passengers. Both the driver and the conductor suffered injuries. The driver is in a critical state."
Prayers for them all, particularly the driver, who is said to be in critical condition.
Does anyone have any idea who is responsible? Since the blasts happened at once, is Al Qaeda suspected?
India supported the US in the UN to put pressure on Iran.
The primary suspects right now are Hizbul Mujahadeen and Lakhsar-e-Tayabba (both jihadi organizations are closely connected to AQ). As Fox News just pointed out a couple of minutes ago, these terrorists are all one and the same.
It seems no good deed goes unpunished. However, the terrorist groups already said that their campaign would continue no matter what. The effect of their campaign is not what they intended: the people are more alert and more united against the terrorists with every such action. The terrorists have learned nothing from their ancestors, the Communists.
This news just shocked me when I read it.
Very sad news. Prayers to all!
I will be traveling to Delhi with my 8 year old son.
We both will make sure to raise our middle fingers to the Terrorists!
Very sad news indeed on the eve of Diwali. My heart goes out to the victims.
Stay safe during your trip to Delhi, indianrightwinger.
When the truth comes out, the perps will be islamic. Time to call out the India hit squad.
I going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing the bombers were MOOSLIMS!
I am sure that India was attacked for its opulent western lifestyle.... /sarcam
"India supported the US in the UN to put pressure on Iran."
Good point!
Your emotional response to my post is rather odd.
Clearly things are not going well in India. It's time for us to get out and bring all our boys home.
Wait a minute. We don't have a base in India. The why in the world would bombs be going off there?
Perhaps these Islamo-fascists just don't like anyone who doesn't agree with them.... lucky for the Lefties, I suppose.
That my fav line in the movie Die Hard
How about first die hard
Come to the party relax LOL!
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