The cinema blasts occurred within
minutes of each other
Posted on 05/23/2005 12:46:41 AM PDT by bd476
The blast occurred when a man opened an abandoned handbag near a railway crossing in eastern Delhi, police said.
One person was killed and at least 49 injured in blasts at two cinemas were showing a film criticised by Sikh leaders for denigrating their faith.
Officials say they do not know who was behind the apparently linked blasts.
Authorities began to shut all cinema halls across the city following the blasts and security forces in the capital were put on high alert.
Panic
The latest blast occurred in the residential district of Nand Nagri at about 0545 local time (0015 GMT), police said.
The man was taken to a local hospital with face and arm injuries.
Police sealed off the area and launched an investigation.
India's Home Minister Shivraj Patil, meanwhile, said all the people wounded in the cinema blasts were being treated in hospital.
"The injuries to the people are not life threatening, and they are out of danger," the minister said.
The two explosions occurred within minutes of each other, causing panic among the cinema goers.
Film protests
The film, Jo Bole So Nihal, was withdrawn from theatres across the largely Sikh state of Punjab last week, following protests.
The highest decision-making body of the Sikh religion said the title misused a battle-cry.
The film was showing for the first time in Delhi this weekend.
Did anything like this EVER happen to the Dixie Chicks? Michael Moore? Tim Robbins?
Oh my. What horror!
Over a movie? I'm at a loss for words- these people are just so... weird.
It would make more sense to jail " highest decision-making body of the Sikh religion" and charge them with inciting mayhem.
I'm getting pretty tired of religious leaders calling for violence. It would seem the mere act of doing so disqualifies that particular sect of religious status.
" Call me crazy, but I think it's the Sihks who are behind it. Sikhs think they are some sort of Muslim, although the Muslims don't think so, and slaughter them in Pakistan once in a while to let them know that sentiment.
That would make too much sense.
Sikhs think they are some sort of MuslimHuh? We have a large Sikh community near here (that's often contentious among itself) and I've never heard them describe themselves as Muslim. The Hindu nationalists in India describe them as Hindu, a designation they also reject.
-Eric
Because they took a shortcut around their displeasure instead of using verbal communication and that shortcut involved a lot of flash and blood, it can now be assumed they view bomb blasts as more expeditious.
The title of the movie translates from Punjabi to English as "Those who speak are pure." It is a phrase from Sikh religious texts. Its secondary use is as a traditional Sikh/Punjabi war-cry.
The correct reply would be, "True, undying God."
The movie is supposed to be a comedy actually and that is part of the controversy. Had it been a religiously themed movie, there would likely have been less to no isue with the title of the movie.
Sikhs are not wannabe Muslims. Not even close. They do share some commonality with Hindus, a bit more than they may want to believe, but much less than Hindus tend to believe. If anything, they probably have more in common with Roman Catholics in terms of rituals, "saints" and hierarchy than any other religion.
First of all,there is absolutely no proof that this movie or it's contents were the reason for these blasts.Far more provocative movies directly based on religion have been made in India & nothing of this sort has happened.Sikh terrorism has virtually been non-existent in India for 15 years & it's survives(on a ventilator) in North America & Britain.On the other hand,some nice folks may have just wanted to use this as an alibi to blow up an Indian or 2 given that things haven't been going well for them with Indian security measures in Kashmir or American pressure on n Pakistan.
Oh, I see, they are unhappy with America so they blow up some theaters and plant a bomb on their railway... it's our fault again, right?
NO!!But the only remaining vocal advocates of an Independent Sikh homeland are in the West(primarily Canada & the UK),along with a few wanted fugitives who are sheltered by Pakistan-these folks, along with Pakistani intelligence bankrolled Sikh extremist groups throughout the 80s.
The nice folks are the Slammics who have slaughtered over 60 thousand Indian men,women & children in terrorist attacks over the past 20 years.They have no reason to be angry with the US as their Afghan & Arab brethren are busy dealing with uncle Sam.
Do a google search on 'Khalistan','Khalistani terror'...You will get my point.
How interesting your suggestion for me to use my time, energy and electricity to do your work for you.
No, thank you.
Nobody insisted that you check it up-it's pretty obvious you have no clue about what I meant.
Agreed. These people are Sikh, just plain Sikh.
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