In Tune

Stories and Songs on today's free French CD, with The Times

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

From The Times

May 14, 2008

Six bombs in 15 minutes leave at least 80 dead in Jaipur

An injured woman is attended to at the scene of one of the bomb blasts in Jaipur, India

Rhys Blakely in Bombay

A series of bomb blasts has claimed at least 80 lives in a popular tourist district of the city of Jaipur in north India.

Officials said that the death toll was expected to rise after the country’s deadliest terror attack in two years.

More than 150 were injured in six explosions that tore through Jaipur over the course of about 15 minutes, according to police. Television news pictures showed pools of blood amid heaps of mangled bicycles and rickshaws in areas that usually draw bustling evening crowds that regularly include hundreds of tourists.

There was no immediate news of any foreign casualties after the attack, which was aimed at some of the city’s busiest areas, including market places and temples, during the rush hour.

Officials at the British High Commission in Delhi, about 160 miles away from Jaipur, said that they were monitoring the situation closely but that telephone lines to the city’s Sawai Mann Singh hospital, where the injured and dead were being taken, were jammed.

Rajasthan state’s Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, told reporters: “We have information that 80 people have died. One suspect was detained and is being investigated.”

Jaipur, gateway to Rajasthan’s forts and palaces and known as the Pink City because of the colour of many of its buildings, usually attracts about 2,000 Britons at this time of year.

Eyewitnesses said they heard six blasts in quick succession at around 7.30pm local time in the city’s walled district. The explosions triggered a stampede in the narrow streets of the old town, they said. “People started running around and I followed them,” Anil Garg told NDTV, the broadcaster. “There are huge traffic jams. I am very scared.”

Among the dead were a 10-year-old boy at the Hanuman (monkey god) temple, a bride in a bright red sari still wearing marriage bangles and a young man covered in blood who was left hanging over the twisted wreckage of a bicycle rickshaw.

Rajasthan’s head of police, Amorjot Singh Gill, said the incident was obviously a terror attack. The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, issued a statement condemning the blasts and appealing for calm.

Cities across India, including Delhi and Bombay, have been placed on alert. As many as four other bombs were planted in Jaipur, but failed to explode, reports said.

There was no official comment on potential suspects and no groups had taken responsibility last night. India has been plagued by sporadic bombings in recent years and officials routinely point the finger at foreign-based Islamist terrorists or, more rarely, fundamentalist Hindu groups hoping to trigger communal violence.

There were suggestions from Indian security sources that the latest attacks may have been timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the Pokharan-II nuclear tests, during which India displayed its atomic arsenal, an act taken as a provocative affront by Pakistan at the time. They also suggested that the intensity of the blasts tallied with the use of explosives known to have been adopted by Islamic groups, though they stressed it was too early to make judgments.

India’s Foreign Minister was due to travel to Pakistan, which also lays claim to Kashmir, later this week and there has been a rise in skirmishes in the disputed Himalayan state.

The most recent serious incident was an attack in the southern city of Hyderabad, which claimed 43 lives last August. In October there was another attack in Jaipur, in which two people were killed.

heart rendering kanta sikri

kanta sikri, chandigarh, india

indian citizens, once and for all, should unite, forgetting which caste,custom, tradition, religion or langauage that they follow and work for a united and safe, India, for ours as well as future genrations. fundamentalists should be crushed and terrorist infrastructure demolished from the core.

shubham, Ireland,

enough is enough
we will not tollret this any more....now it is right time to abolish this terrorism.....there is no rights for evils to live on this earth ...this is very abominable crime

akhil sharma, beawar, india

I was in Jaipur last November.
I love India and the people are wonderful and peaceful.
They don't deserve this. People of Jaipur, I wish you all the strength in these difficult times.

Jenny, Hengelo, the Netherlands

pls guys help jaipur ... donate bloood in sms hospital n contribute in the hard time of humanity .....
more thn 300 people have alraedy died ... n more thn 700 are injured .... n they need bloood guys pls help

PRATIBHA, jaipur,

This is not war, it is just wholesale murder. No religion on Earth condones the slaughter of innocents. Even if they evade capture, whoever was responsible for this act of genocide will have to face the Maker one day, and answer for their appalling crimes.

Piers Helsen, Udaipur, India

They want to foment trouble like they do everywhere in the world and cause distrust. India is too strong for that and hindus and muslims will live together the beauty of India is its pluralism. I long for mark tully like reporting critical but matter of fact!

A.V.Raman, coventry, uk

Pakistan is the only Muslim country who has nuclear weapons and could possibly be a threat to Israel in the future. Iraq has already been removed as a "threat" Iran and Pakistan next?... India and Pakistan - "divide and rule" ?

jayil, london, uk

How dare some one linking it to Islamic terrorism, you may add to terrorism but not to Islam. Its is simple for Indian medias and Govt that if such happens in Temple just by Muslim, If to Mosque just by Pakistan.. how nice. Would you open your eyes to volunteers there in Jaipur, who arranged by RSS?

Fadel, Kerala, India

We have let the prey become the predator. If the world would rise up against terrorist and tell Iran, Pakistan and a few other countries take care of your home grown problems or we will take care of you, we wouldn't have this dicussion every month.

tyler, Springfield, USA

I think it's not a rocket science to know who carries these acts of terror in India. Pakistan, unfortunately has become the originator of these types of violence in India, Afghanistan and the West. And it seems there is no one who dares to take this matter seriously and take steps to tell, stop it !

Fori Bsus, London, UK

To smita sharma: Are you saying its Ok to attack a first world country?!?! I sincerely hope you are not.
To all in India: I live in a country that has seen lots of terrorist attrocities from the Irish terrorists and al Qaida terrorists and can offer my sincere sympathies to all people in India.

Bill Green, Scunthorpe, England

i think that you have got the facts a little wrong
according to most dailies and news channels in india, there were 8 blasts and not six.

Kirat Singh, New Delhi, India

Classic case of asking the question "who has the most to gain from this act ?". Not everyday Hindu's, Muslims or Sikhs that's for sure - just the high up's around the world pulling strings for their own gain and as usual the people suffer. Then everyone forgets and they get to do it again & again.

Vikram Gill, London, UK

This is a shame for all peace loving citizens. Jaipur is known as a tourist spot. It is high time Indian government does something serious to end the menace of terrorism.

French SAP HD, Paris, France

even in the some other articles i read that the security officers in rajpur got the news before hand that there might be terrorist attack in jaipur. if that was said then why didnt they do anything about it to stop it.i dunno whats gonna happen to india in few years.its so not safe anymore in india

vaidehi, timmins, canada

We are suffering the results of the cruelty of our governments.

Blasts, rising cost of living , poor infrastructure & accidents, lack of opportunities and corrupt politicians are ruining sub continent.

I , being a Pakistani, and a neighbor condemn such acts of terrorism, and feel the pain.

zafar, Montreal, Canada

there is no single bombings happened till date which can be associated with hindus.......the information issued by rhys is totally false instead the government of india pointed out towards militants group like huji ,simi and LeT.......kindly rectify the lines used.....

yogesh, Mumbai, India

It is sad that the government is opening border and transportation links to Bangla Desh and Pakistan who
continue to send the bombers and aid these bombings. Until we can get a better handle on immigrants and visitors to India, we should freeze the movements.

Lal Singh, Californai, USA

Jaipur of all places is very calm city. If we dont protect it, we can cause a significant morale and economic damage. Where does the loyalties of UPA govt lie...to the innocent people or the Bangla and Pakistanis? Let it be known that UPA and BJP are against the country when they open the borders

Lal Singh, Californai, USA

"There has not been a single bombing incident which can be associated with any Hindu group" -- Sanjeevani, Mumbai, India

Sir, you are totally wrong about that statement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4445107.stm

http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/22870/2007/07/13-182629-1.htm

jayil, london, uk

I'm surprised no fingers have been pointed at the Naxalites - a growing problem in the Punjab.

Bill Q, Derby,

There has not been a single bombing incident which can be associated with any Hindu group. Kindly rectify the lines used.

I totally agree to Tanvir that a terrorist has no religion, race or creed but only selfish interests.
There should be no mercy shown on terrorists.

Sanjeevani, Mumbai, India

A hedious attack with high explosives in a peaceful town like jaipur is a shame for the goverment itself, with the growing infrastructure and growing economy one must make sure for individuals security and wellness .

pashmina, MONROVIA, LIBERIA

For the agencies responsible for the safety of the country and the citizen it is a routine matter. All responsible should be sacked immediately. How come such huge Destructive materials can be procured & then moved without the knowledge of our IB. Sack them all also the Home Minister sud resign

Khan ghulam Mohammad, Jeddah, KSA

There are two types of warrior:
The first fights injustice, the second creates it.
The first protects the innocent, the second kills them.
The first sacrifices himself for others, the second sacrifices others.
The first is a tree that provides shade.
The second is a tree for firewood.

Dilip Dhokia, Bradford, UK

Regarding what Arindam of Doha says:

The blasts are condemnable. There are no sympathetic Indian Muslims. Who are you to expel Muslims from India? India belongs to Muslims as well. How would you like being expelled from Doha? If you love India so much, why have you abandoned it for Doha

SM Hussain, Hyderabad, India

Authorities responcible for Law &order in the state failed to safeguard Capital where they are resting enjoying all the benefits coming with position should first step down , until unless we citizens of this peace loving country put accountability on these inefficient lot we have to die like this

vickram singh, Dubai , UAE

Proper security checks must be maintained with full discipline and dedication at every public place throughout the city , i think this will help a lot to prevent such mishaps.

kunal, jaipur, india

I dont know where these all things will take india to... every now and then there is a NEWS of Bomb Blast. Dont know how they manage to bring ecplosive like TNT RDX in such a high quantity in Country... and what the police do.. Dont know what will happen in future

Himanshu, Jaipur, India

very very disgusting, I was very scared when I heard about it, as my parents live in Jaipur. This place is very calm please do not turn it into havoc.

Reena Sharma, Brisbane, Australia

Beat the terrorists , We should beat the where ever we find them , we should isolate them , let them not mix them in the society and then eliminate them , this is biggest disease of the century , it has nothing to do with any religion , race , region , they just have their evil goals of killing .

Tanvir Ahmed Khan , Maharashtra , India

We should respond by closing trade and transport links with the terrorist states on our border - Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Then cut diplomatic relations.

Then start expelling sympathetic Indian Muslims to these two countries.

Only a Fortress India policy will prevent such outrages.

Arindam, Doha, Qatar

This incident has sucked the life out of the Indians, nd it should be condemned everywhere.
It's not the first time when it happened,however we don't have a single example when Indian Govt. was able to punish the culprit.
It's the time when we should take a firm action..Tit for Tat is the way to go.

Mayank, Delhi, India

This is the result of Vote bank based loose policies of UPA Government at the centre. The weekest prime minister of the country in few decades with inefficient homeminister turning the country in to a real heaven for the terrorists to target whomever they want and exhibit the strength.

venkata narayana.D, Bnagalore, India

This incident has sucked the life out of the Indians,and this incident should be condemned everywhere.
Sometimes i think that why the hell in ths whole World these terrorists attack on My country.Bt thn if i c the conditions and stats i get the reply,bcz they knw our Govt can't do any bad to them.

Mayank, Delhi, India

It is now clear that terrorist activities are no longer confined only to Jammu & Kashmir and its adjacent areas.I think the army and police force should be given a free hand in terrorism stricken areas as happened in Punjab during the Golden Temple attack which was thwarted solely because of this.

Tripti Chouhan, Jaipur, India

In a peaceful city like Jaipur these bomb blasts is matter of shame to all of our system where citizens are fearfull and our system is make terrorists fearless. What kind of dirty system we are having where innocent person should be afraid of getting out of their homes.

Ashish, Jaipur, India

Some one some where is trying hard to sabotage Indian-Pakistani closeness. Those terrorist bombings and the murder of 6 soldiers a few days ago is identical with some of the bombs that have been used in Pakistan against the government.

This is very dangerous for India and Pakistan.Be on guard.both

L.A. ISUFI, Bergen County.N.J, United States

why India is being targeted its a third world country innocent people die in these bomb attacks every 2 year or so India has its 9/11 every 2 year .What can the terrorist achive with this .Innocent people are dead and after few weeks again back to normal .What is the motive .

smita sharma, Frankston, Australia

Wow can't say Asia's been having a good week.

Meera, Reading, UK