Hunt for bombers who brought slaughter to festive markets
Monday October 31 2005
The authorities urged people to avoid public areas, while the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, branded the three attacks on shopping areas and a bus as dastardly terrorist acts.
"These blasts have been timed to create disaffection during the festival season," he said, referring to Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and the Islamic Eid al-Fitr, both this week.
"We shall defeat their nefarious designs and will not allow them to succeed."
The first explosion ripped through New Delhi's Paharganj market on Saturday, causing carnage. Within minutes, a second bomb targeted the popular Sarojini Nagar market, and a third blast wrecked a commuter bus in the Govindpuri neighbourhood.
The attacks were particularly shocking to Indians as they targeted shoppers on the eve of Diwali, which is similar to Christmas in the West.
Investigators confirmed they had detained 32 suspects, but refused to give details about the arrests.
The bombs exploded hours after India and Pakistan began talks on opening the heavily militarised border in disputed Kashmir to send more aid to victims of the devastating earthquake.
Opening the border is extremely sensitive for New Delhi because of the long-running insurgency by Islamic separatists in Indian Kashmir.
A man saying he represented a militant group, Islamic Inquilab Mahaz ("Front for Islamic Uprising") claimed responsibility for the bombings, in a call to the Kashmir News Service.
The little-known group is thought to be tied to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the most feared Islamic militant force in Kashmir.
- Dan McDougallin New Delhi
