27 September 2008 Delhi blast

Infobox civilian attack
title = 27 September 2008 Delhi blast


caption =
location = Delhi, India
coordinates =
date = 27 September 2008
time = 14:15
timezone = UTC+05:30
type = Bombing
fatalities = 3
injuries = 23
perps =
perp =
susperps = Bangladeshi militants [ [http://www.itgo.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12903&sectionid=5&secid=27&Itemid=1 India Today Group Online] ]
susperp =
weapons = Crude bombs
motive = The 27 September 2008 Delhi blast in India’s second largest metropolis left 3 people dead and twenty-three more injured. [cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/seven-killed-15-injured-in-bomb-blast-in-delhis-mehrauli-area_100100797.html |title=Seven killed, 15 injured in bomb blast in Delhi's Mehrauli area |publisher=Thaindian.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-27] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7639302.stm BBC] ] The explosion occurred at 2:15 p.m. (IST), in Mehrauli’s flower market. Initially, there were reports of two persons', including a nine-year-old boy, being killed in the attack. However, the next day the death toll rose to three. [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=4eda9fa6-e2f5-4ea6-bd8e-dff5d4159f26TerrorStrikesDelhi_Special&&Headline=Death+toll+in+Delhi+blast+rises+to+three Death toll in Delhi blast rises to three- Hindustan Times] ] [ [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/death-toll-in-delhi-blast-rises-to-three/74528-3.html Death toll in Delhi blast rises to three] ] About 23 others were injured [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cops_launch_manhunt_in_Mehrauli_blast_in_Delhi/articleshow/3534219.cms Two detained in Delhi's Mehrauli blast-India-The Times of India] ] and are being treated at AIIMS and Fortis Hospital. [cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Blast_in_Mehrauli_area_in_Delhi_2_killed/articleshow/3534219.cms |title=Blast in Mehrauli area in Delhi-India-The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] The bombing took place exactly two weeks after the five serial blasts in Delhi on 13 September 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/target-delhi-capital-struck-twice-in-2-weeks/74509-3.html |title=Target Delhi: Capital struck twice in 2 weeks |publisher=Ibnlive.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28]

The blast

Eyewitnesses reported that the blast took place after two men in black dress and wearing helmets and riding a motorcycle dropped a tiffin box in which the bomb was placed. A boy picked up the box in an attempt to return it to the bikers, but they refused and fled. [http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/5836D4D61E22C662652574D10046D1F4?OpenDocument After two weeks, terror back in Delhi: Bomb blast kills boy -PTI] ] People Nearby witnessed smoke coming out of the box and advised the boy to get away, but it was too late. [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=4a51cda5-fddd-4865-ade1-8efdf2d8f6a8&ParentID=51b83e2a-2ed3-4d65-b113-f3efe14f670f&&Headline=‘Aapka+packet+gir+gaya+hai’] The resulting explosion killed the boy and injured 18 others. [cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/two-dead-25-injured-in-delhis-mehrauli-blast/74473-3.html |title=Two dead, 25 injured in Delhi's Mehrauli blast |publisher=Ibnlive.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] "The Washington Post" reported that seven of them were in critical condition. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/27/AR2008092701365.html?hpid=topnews Bomb Explosion In Indian Capital Kills 1, Injures 18 - washingtonpost.com] ] The police said that the blast was similar to those near IIT Delhi and Lado Sarai in January and February respectively this year. [cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Blast_in_Mehrauli_area_in_Delhi_1_killed/articleshow/3534219.cms |title=Blast in Mehrauli area in Delhi-India-The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28]

Aftermath and reaction

The Chief Minister of Delhi declared a compensation of Rs. 500,000 to the kin of the dead and Rs. 50,000 plus all costs of treatment to those injured. [cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/explosion-of-politics-blame-game-after-delhi-blast/74507-3.html |title=Blame game after blast Pics: Chaos, fear |publisher=Ibnlive.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] The blast was condemned by several Indian politicians including Pranab Mukherjee [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=39780] and Lal Krishna Advani. [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=39779] Main opposition party, the BJP, accused the government of India of being soft on terror. [cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092859600800.htm |title=The Hindu : Front Page : Manmohan soft on terror: BJP |publisher=Hindu.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "The Government is determined to wean out the culprits."Fact|date=September 2008

The series of attacks across major Indian cities since May 2008 has apparently created a sense of fear and insecurity among India's populace. According to a survey held by "CNN-IBN" and "Hindustan Times", 81% of urban Indians felt scared after the recent surge in terror attacks. [cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cnnibnht-survey-urban-india-petrified/74511-3.html |title=CNN-IBN-HT Survey: Urban India petrified Delhi jinxed? |publisher=Ibnlive.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] Of those who were surveyed, 90% said that India needed much stronger laws to tackle terrorism, while the remainder said India did not need any such tougher laws. [cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/fear-factor-india-scared-scarred-by-nonstop-terror/74525-3-single.html |title=Fear factor: India scared, scarred by terror |publisher=Ibnlive.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28]

"The Hindu" reported that usually crowded shopping areas in Delhi bore a deserted look during the weekend as a consequence of the blast. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092859530800.htmM] Dead link|date=September 2008] [ [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080066997 NDTV.com: Post-blast fear, insecurity grips Delhi] ] According to the "Indian Express", shopkeepers had kept away from the flower market in Mehrauli, the blast site. [cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Mehrauli-struggles-for-normalcy/367091 |title=Mehrauli struggles for normalcy |publisher=Indianexpress.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-30]

Following the blast, the security arrangements for the Australian cricket team, currently on a tour of India, was tightened. [ [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/story/371501.html Cricinfo - Australia not seeking venue change yet] ] Cricket Australia was reported to be reviewing security arrangements in Delhi where it is scheduled to play a test match against Indian cricket team in late October 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketnext.com/news/blast-casts-shadow-on-delhi-test/34369-13.html |title=Blast casts shadow on Delhi Test : Cricket Next|accessdate=2008-09-30] However, in a statement Cricket Australia said that the test match in Delhi will go ahead as per schedule. [cite web |url=http://www.ptinews.com/ptiptisite.nsf/0/9897C2D29A665172652574D20054B90C?OpenDocument|title=CA says Delhi Test is on despite blasts|accessdate=2008-09-30]

Investigation

According to "the Hindu", two men on a motorcycle wearing black shirts, jeans and helmets planted the bomb. [cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092861040100.htm |title=The Hindu : Front Page : Blast in Delhi again, two killed |publisher=Hindu.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] Investigating authorities revealed that ammonium nitrate, sulphur and potassium were used to cause the low-intensity blast. [ [http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE48R0RR20080928?sp=true Indian police detain about 12 over Delhi blast | World | Reuters] ]

A team of National Security Guards was deployed to assist the investigating authorities. Delhi Police had detained 5 persons at the Indira Gandhi International Airport whom they suspected of having a role in the blast. According to "Hindustan Times", the police has also picked several Bangladeshis for interrogation.cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=51b83e2a-2ed3-4d65-b113-f3efe14f670fTerrorStrikesDelhi_Special&&Headline=Mehrauli+blast:+Police+suspect+Bangladeshi+link |title=Police suspect Bangladeshi link- Hindustan Times |publisher=Hindustantimes.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] "NDTV" said that there was a possibility that the attack was not carried out by the "Indian Mujahideen", which claimed responsibility for the serial attacks in Delhi 2 weeks ago, since the bomb which went off in Mehrauli were quite different. [cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080066938M |title=NDTV.com: Delhi blast: Arrival of a new terror module? |publisher=Ndtv.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28]

Police in Faridabad had identified and held the man who sold the sim card to the terrorists from which the attackers had made a call to media agencies threatening another terror strike moments before the blast. [cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080066965 |title=NDTV.com: First arrest made in connection with Delhi blast |publisher=Ndtv.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] The police has also detained the person whose cell phone was used to make the call. [http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=16964] The police across NCR had increased patrolling at various access points. [http://www.timesnow.tv/Newsdtls.aspx?NewsID=16927]

The Deputy Commissioner of Police for Delhi, Alok Kumar, said, "The evidence collected so far indicates that the bomb had no timer or detonator and it was low-intensity. We do not think it was linked to the Indian Mujahideen or any other terror group. In the recent past, in the stretch between the IP flyover and the Andheria road-junction in Mehrauli, there have been instances when bike-borne youths have dropped bombs in crowded streets." [cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=3594a875-4778-44c5-8b89-6f206390895b&ParentID=51b83e2a-2ed3-4d65-b113-f3efe14f670f&&Headline=Mehrauli+blast%3a+Despair+%26amp%3b+hope |title=Mehrauli blast: Despair & hope- Hindustan Times |publisher=Hindustantimes.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-28] The "Indian Express" revealed that the bomb was quite similar to those made by Abdul Karim Tunda, a notorious terrorist who has been linked to several prior terrorist attacks in India. [cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Saturday-s-blast-had-Tunda-s-signature/367093 |title=Saturday’s blast had Tunda’s signature |publisher=Indianexpress.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-30] India TV News reported one among the dead was not a victim as his relatives failed to turn up at the hospital morgue after the blast, and his details could not be verified.Fact|date=September 2008

The police also reported that they had received a call before the blasts saying, "Save Delhi, there will be blast!" [ [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=a511c51b-4d0b-431c-9704-f7c43b03e5b1&ParentID=4eda9fa6-e2f5-4ea6-bd8e-dff5d4159f26&&Headline=Man+made+a+call+to+Delhi+police+about+blast%3a+Faridabad+police Man made a call to Delhi police about blast: Faridabad police- Hindustan Times] ]

ee also

*List of terrorist incidents, 2008
* Jaipur bombings
* Bangalore bombings
* 2008 Ahmedabad bombings
* 13 September 2008 Delhi bombings
* 29 September 2008 western India bombings

External links

* [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/gallerydetail.aspx?imgid=2580&
]

References