by Nirmala Carvalho

Mgr Fernandes slams strategy designed to split Indian society along religious and ethnic lines. But he also stresses the solidarity people showed at the time of the attacks. At least 49 people are killed by the blasts which were set to kill as many people as possible and create as much insecurity as possible.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – “The bomb blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore are an attack on communal harmony that prevails in India by a few fanatical forces who cause death and devastation,” said archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, as he condemned the series of attacks that took place last Friday in Ahmedabad, when 16 explosions killed at least 49 and injured more than 160, and last Thursday in Bangalore, when eight bombs caused the death of one person, injuring another seven.

For the past two days the two cities are under tight police control in a surreal atmosphere where people are afraid even to go into the streets.

In Ahmedabad (Gujarat) a first series of bombs struck residential areas, market places and public transport. A second series of explosions were targeted victims and their helpers as they arrived at hospitals. Two blasts near the Civil Hospital’s trauma center killed at least 15 people. Police also found many bombs hidden in boxes and on bicycles.

Two unexploded bombs were also found in a car in the city of Surat, some 225 kilometres south of Ahmedabad.

India largest cities are now on maximum alert as many Indians call for tougher anti-terrorism laws.

Ahmedabad and Gujarat were the scene of sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims in early 2002 which left thousands dead, especially Muslims. Very few have forgotten that event on either side.

The latest attacks have been claimed in an e-mail to a television channel by a little-known Islamist group, the Indian Mujahideen, as revenge for the 2002 massacre in Gujarat.

The same group said it carried out bombings that killed 63 people in the western city of Jaipur in May.

Police continue however their investigation in all directions.

“The Church in India condemns in strongest possible terms these senseless acts of violence in parts of the country,” Archbishop Fernandes told AsiaNews, adding that the “Church has opened all its medical institutions to serve the victims.”

“These heinous acts are anti-national by elements who seek to sow seeds of mistrust, insecurity and fear in the minds of people, but we have seen through the live footage, people of every community rushing to help the victims of the blasts. The concern and care for a brother and sister prevailed,” he said, over the attempt to cause panic.

“I am personally very upset about these blasts and concerned that there may be reprisals; yet there is hope for India. The people of India are united in tragedy and people have rushed to help each other irrespective of caste and creed. India will prevail” over this attempt to create divisions.

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• bangalore
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• 2002
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• stanislaus
• fernandes
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