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| Terror Strikes Again in Malegaon |
| Bomb blasts leave at least 37 dead, over 100 injured |
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Rajen Nair (rajennair)  |
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Published 2006-09-09 03:27 (KST) |
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After a brief lull following the Mumbai explosions, the terrorists have struck once again in the small town of Malegaon in western India today, when three bomb blasts struck in a deadly series of attacks.
At around 1:15 p.m. outside the Noorani Mosque the first bomb went off. About 5,000 Muslims had gathered on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, praying for the prophet's forgiveness for sins committed. The other two bomb attacks took place in Bada Kabrastan. The bombs were placed in a bicycle carrier parked outside the mosque. The nature and intensity of the bomb is still unknown and under investigation
It is reported that at least 37 people were killed and over 100 people injured. It is suspected that most injuries were the result of a stampede following the bomb blasts. Many children were feared dead due to the stampede. Gory scenes of innocent children lying dead outside the mosque was beamed live on television.
Malegoan has a scarcity of hospitals, which makes the authorities' jobs more difficult in coping with the rising death toll and rushing medical help to the injured.
Just after the blast some the locals gave vent to their anger by indulging in arson and violence. This had prompted the authorities to place Malegaon under curfew.
So far the government has refrained from naming any terrorist organisation behind the Malegaon blast, unlike the Mumbai blast where the government was quick to point fingers at Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-toiba.
The Malagaon blast is once again seen as an attempt by the terrorist to drive a wedge between the two communities. The Government has appealed to the people of Malegaon and other parts of the country to maintain calm and peace.
Surprisingly all three bomb blasts took place in areas dominated by Muslims, who were the obvious targets. In the past, bomb attacks in the country have had Hindus as their major targets and victims.
Malagaon is a Muslim-dominated area and strong-hold area of SIMI, a banned organization. It recently came under scrutiny, as some of its former members were arrested in connection to the recent Mumbai blast. Malagaon is sensitive area with recurring skirmishes taking place between Hindus and Muslims. In the past, a large haul of ammunition and explosives were seized from this area.
Just two day before the Malegoan blast Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had chaired the meeting of the chief ministers of all states. In his speech he highlighted the intelligence warning of more terror attacks in the country and cautioned the state to become extra vigilant.
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©2006 OhmyNews
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