- Mecca Masjid bombing
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Makkah Masjid Bombing Location Hyderabad, India17°21′36″N 78°28′24″E / 17.360106°N 78.473427°E Date 18 May 2007
13:15 (IST (UTC+5.30))Target Makkah Masjid Attack type RDX activated by Mobile Death(s) 16 Injured 100 Suspected perpetrator(s) Abhinav Bharat[1] or Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami[2][3] Attacks with 50+ deaths in bold
2001: Indian Parliament – Srinagar – 2002: 1st Raghunath Temple – Akshardam Temple – Kolkata – Kaluchak massacre – Qasimnagar massacre – Rafiganj train – 2nd Raghunath Temple – Mumbai 2002 – Kurnool train – 2003: 1st Mumbai 2003 – 2nd Mumbai 2003 – 3rd Mumbai 2003 – 4th Mumbai 2003 – 2005: Ayodhya – Delhi 2005 – Jaunpur train – 2006: Varanasi – Jama Masjid – Doda massacre – Mumbai 2006 – Malegaon – West Bengal train – 2007: Samjhauta Express – Mecca Masjid – Hyderabad – Ajmer Dargah – Uttar Pradesh – 2008: Jaipur – Bangalore – Ahmedabad – 1st Delhi 2008 – 2nd Delhi 2008 – Malegaon/Modasa – Agartala – Imphal – Assam – Mumbai 2008 – 2009: 1st Guwahati – 2nd Guwahati – 2010: Pune – Dantewada – Jnaneswari Express – Varanasi 2010 – 2011: Mumbai 2011 – Delhi 2011The Makkah Masjid bombing occurred on May 18, 2007 inside the Makkah Masjid, a mosque the old city area in Hyderabad, capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh[4] located very close to Charminar. The blast was caused by a cellphone-triggered pipe bomb.[5] Fourteen people were reported dead in the immediate aftermath, of whom five(official record:disputed) were killed by the police firing after the incident while trying to quell the mob.[5]
Contents
Overview
According to the Deccan Chronicle, the bomb comprised a high explosive substance filled in a 10-inch (250 mm) by 3-inch (76 mm) pipe. The Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory claims that RDX and TNT were used in the 10 inches (25 cm) by 3 inches (7.6 cm) pipe bomb. The bomb was placed under a heavy granite slab that broke in two. Police later said that the slab had taken the force of the impact and saved many lives.
The blast occurred near the open air section of the Makkah Masjid. At the time of the blast more than 10,000 people were inside the mosque premises, for the Friday prayers. The injured were treated at the Osmania hospital in Hyderabad.
Following this Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra were put on alert. State Home Minister K Jana Reddy said the blast, which injured over fifty people in addition to the death toll, could be the act of foreign elements.
Rioting and Police firing
Five individuals died as a result of the police firing. This has caused considerable controversy. The Telegraph reports[6]:
- Six rounds were fired in the afternoon and evening to prevent shops and public property from being damaged, including petrol pumps and ATMs. One person was killed in the firing in the Moghapura area, while two fell to the police bullets elsewhere. Another lost his life when the police had to pull the trigger to control a mob trying to break into an ATM.
- According to police commissioner Balwinder Singh, his men resorted to firing after water cannons, tear gas and baton-charge failed to bring the mob fury under control.
It is reported that[7] a frenzied mob attacked state-owned road transport corporation buses, forcing the closure of Falaknuma bus depot.
According to the police, the rioters were trying to set fire to a petrol pump.[8] Inspector P. Sudhakar of Falaknuma police station, who has been removed from his position on the charge of opening fire `indiscriminately' to control the rampaging mobs[9] stated:
- "While I asked my subordinates to be on high alert, mobs from Shalibanda and the mosque came towards Moghalpura pelting stones. They set ablaze a wine shop and charged towards a petrol pump where we were stationed."
- The mobs took out petrol from the dispenser and sprinkled it on the room. "When they tried to ignite it with the help of dry grass, I ordered my men to open fire with .303 rifles to disperse them," he says. "As the situation turned worse, I sought additional forces. Quick Reaction teams along with Moghalpura Inspector arrived and scattered the crowd by opening fire." At least 10 persons, including policemen, could have been killed if fire orders were not issued, he insists.
Suspected bombers
The National Investigation Agency,[10][11] Central Bureau of Investigation[12] and Anti Terrorist Squad (India)[13] have uncovered the alleged role of RSS linked extremists[13][14][15] behind the Makkah Masjid bombing.[16] Earlier, the South Asia Terrorism Portal,[17] the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses,[18] the National Counterterrorism Center[19] the United States,[20] and the United Nations[21] reported that Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami was actually behind the attacks based on initial investigations. Noting this, security analyst Bahukutumbi Raman has questioned "the two different versions that have emerged from Indian and American investigators." accepting that this could be possible because Indian authorities have not updated their counterparts in the US and UN.[22] The CBI have also claimed that the United States National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) does not seem to be up to date with the latest investigation.[23]
On November 19, 2010, the Central Bureau of Investigation produced the preacher Swami Asimanand before the court in connection with the Makkah Masjid blast in Hyderabad in May 2007. The court remanded Swami Asimanand to CBI custody till 30 November and was taken to Chanchalguda Jail. He was nabbed in Haridwar on Friday and was brought to Hyderabad today. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi had granted CBI the transit remand of Swami for two days. Other cases that he has been linked with include 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings, 2008 Malegoan & Modasa bombing and Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast.[24][25][26][27]
On January 15, the confession of Swami Aseemanand was published by Tehelka and CNN-IBN implicating various members of Saffron terror outfits in other cases such as Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast, 2006 Malegaon blasts, 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings, 2008 Malegoan & Modasa bombing.[28] The confession was done in front of a magistrate citing the guilt he felt after seeing innocent Muslim boys arrested in the case by the police.[28] However in late March 2011, Aseemanand redacted his 'confession' alleging that he was coerced by the ATS to make a confession[29]
In April, 2010, Aseemanand submitted a letter to the court which said: "I have been pressured mentally and physically by the investigating agencies to 'confess' that I was behind these blasts." He also said he was threatened and pressured to become a government witness in the case.[30]
A letter written by Aseemanand on December 20, 2010, two days after his confession to the CBI, was presented as evidence in January 2011 to show that the confession he gave was actually voluntary. The letter, which was never sent, was addressed to the presidents of India and Pakistan and explained why he had wanted to confess and tell the truth after seeing the innocent people that had been arrested and implicated with him.[31] Because of this proof about Aseemanand's confession, the families of the 32 men arrested in the aftermath of the bombing have begun demanding the release of the youths from jail.[32]
See also
- Religious violence in India
- Saffron Terror
- Terrorism in India
- 2006 Malegaon blasts
- 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings
- 2007 Ajmer Dargah attack
- 2008 Malegoan & Modasa bombing
References
- ^ The Mirror Explodes - Outlook - July 19, 2010
- ^ Arrest of Some Hindus as Terrorists- Getting Curiouser & Curiouser South Asia Analysis Group - August 7, 2010
- ^ Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) South Asia Terrorism Portal
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6668695.stm Article on BBC website
- ^ a b bomb in Makkah Masjid
- ^ The Telegraph - Calcutta : Nation
- ^ Mob violence after Hyd blast, 4 killed : hyderabad, blast, Makkah masjid, char minar, police firing, mob violence : IBNLive.com : CNN-IBN
- ^ Decoding the Hyderabad blast
- ^ I've acted to avert a disaster: Inspector
- ^ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/cops-nab-terror-suspects-441
- ^ http://www.siasat.com/english/news/Makkah-masjid-blast-accused-also-linked-samjhauta-train-attack-nia
- ^ "RSS leader likely to be quizzed again in Masjid blast case". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 27 December 2010. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article993217.ece.
- ^ a b The Times Of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ATS-may-grill-Aseemanand-before-tackling-Indresh/articleshow/7169472.cms.
- ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mosque-blast-RSS-man-grilled/H1-Article1-641887.aspx
- ^ The Times Of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/RSS-leader-grilled-for-Hindu-terror/articleshow/7154024.cms.
- ^ HuJI ban takes no note of 'Hindu terror' role Times of India - August 8, 2010
- ^ Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) - South Asia Terrorism Portal
- ^ HuJI after the Death of its India Chief Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses - February 13, 2008
- ^ ‘Huji, not Hindu group, behind Makkah Masjid blast’ Hindustan Times - September 23, 2010
- ^ US, UN declare HuJI as terrorist organisation Times of India - August 8, 2010
- ^ US, UN declare HuJI a terror group NDTV - August 7, 2010
- ^ Bahukutumbi Raman (7 August 2010). "Arrest of Some Hindus as Terrorists- Getting Curiouser & Curiouser". South Asia Analysis Group. http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers40%5Cpaper3971.html. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
- ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Huji-not-Hindu-group-behind-Makkah-Masjid-blast/Article1-603896.aspx
- ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/report/why-swami-aseemanand-is-a-prize-catch-for-the-cbi/20101119.htm
- ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-Swami-Aseemanand-sheltered-Best-Bakery-accused-on-the-run-/713969
- ^ "Aseemanand arrest: Major boost to Ajmer dargah blast probe". The Times Of India. November 19, 2010. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Aseemanand-arrest-Major-boost-to-Ajmer-dargah-blast-probe/articleshow/6956704.cms.
- ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Swami-aseemanand-sheltered-be.../713969/
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ Aseemanand takes back all he said, was ‘coerced’ Indian Express - March 31, 2011
- ^ http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5092856&page=2
- ^ http://ibnlive.in.com/news/aseemanands-confession-before-cbi-voluntary/140377-3.html
- ^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aseemanands-confession-focus-shifts-to-jailed-muslim-youths/1/126122.html
External links
Categories:- Terrorist incidents in Hyderabad
- Terrorist attacks on places of worship
- Massacres in places of worship
- Terrorist incidents in India in 2007
- Hindu terrorism
- Islamic terrorism in India
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