After complaints that a film by a Sikh director and a Sikh actor is insulting to Sikhism, some protozoans hid bombs in two Delhi theaters (thanks, Sapna). At least 44 people were wounded when the bombs went off this evening, some critically:
Bombs exploded inside two movie theatres showing a controversial Hindi-language film in the Indian capital on Sunday, injuring at least 20 people, officials said. Both theatres are located in the Karol Bagh neighbourhood of west Delhi and the explosions occurred 15 minutes apart, said Junior Home Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal.At least 13 people were injured in the first blast at the Liberty Cinema about 20:30 (15:00 GMT), chief fire officer RC Sharma said. The explosive was planted under a seat in the front rows, he said. About 15 minutes later, another explosion rocked the nearby Satyam Cinema, wounding at least seven people, Sharma said. At Satyam, the bomb went off inside the washroom. [News 24]
There’s some discrepancy regarding where the first bomb was placed:
The intensity of the blast was so powerful that the police fear that many of the injured, who are currently undergoing treatment at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, may succumb to their injuries… Explosions, suspected to be caused by bombs, occurred at Liberty cinema hall took place in the rear stall during the screening of the controversial film Jo Bole So Nihaal. The blast at Satyam took place in a toilet. PVR cinema halls in south Delhi has also been evacuated as a precautionary measure. [Times of India]
Members of Sikhism’s highest body, the Akal Takht, said the film, Jo Bole So Nihaal, was ok by them, so I wonder about the rationality of blowing people up in a neighborhood that’s itself full of Sikhs. It’s true that it’s not entirely cool to explicitly play to dismissive stereotypes — the official site begins with ‘He is cute! He is adorable!’ And using a religious phrase as a title was bound to chafe in a religion-obsessed country:
Some Sikh groups had taken offence at the use of the religious phrase in the title and to some scenes in the film which showed characters entering Sikh places of worship without removing their shoes and covering their heads — considered sacrilege by Sikhism. [Reuters]
But dissing a movie is the realm of bloggers and movie reviewers. This violent reaction to a schlocky, anti-terrorist Bollywood film is self-defeating on every level. You think a movie insults religion and shows people in a bad light? Try mass murder. I hope these criminals are hunted down and granted the love of a good Indian jailer.
Like Kal Ho Naa Ho, the movie is set partly in New York and shows off the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s playing at Loews State in Times Square:
… Sikh groups demanded a ban on it. They were angered by its title and scenes depicting a Sikh character being chased by scantily clad women.
I have no doubt that Vikram Chatwal begged to be included.
Here are more news stories about the bombings.
Phukkin scumbags
You are trying to use reason on people who are basically psychopaths. There is no reason or rationality to this thing. They are irrational psychopaths who have the mentality of a great big fat murderous bully.
I hope they catch these phukkwits then lock them in a cell and force them to watch Govinda films continuously.
These wicked people need to be found and brought to justice. But before jumping to conclusions that the bombing was about the Sikh movie:
“The blasts occurred on the first anniversary of the Congress Party, backed by its communist allies, taking power after ousting the Hindu nationalists.” http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/afx/2005/05/22/afx2045999.html
BJP’s position is different aboutculprits
SGPC’s official reaction statement about the blasts.
Interesting quote from that story
I dont know if that is a denial or something else !!!
Too early to say who did it. But whoever it was they need to be punished.
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blockquote> I hope they catch these phukkwits then lock them in a cell and force them to watch Govinda films continuously.
That quote from the SGPC just shows the mealy mouthed idiocy of the people. The only ones to blame are those who planted the bomb.
Fools.
What is clear also is that most of the people in the cinemas were Sikh.
The politicians and the media always try their best to benefit from tragedies like this one. I just pray that no more innocents are hurt by these terrorists and also pray that no misguided backlash occurs.
This is unreasonable speculation in the press. That the theatres were playing “Jo Bole so Nihaal” is only incidental. Would’nt any theatre be playing the latest release?
The intent was to hurt many people.
JD
You cant rule that out you know!
Robin
Its not unreasonable to speculate that it may have been carried out by phukkwits in relation to the film in question. Its just speculation, and seeing as there has been a campaign against the film by some people, and the bombs were placed in actual halls where the film was playing, it is not unreasonable to speculate that they are connected.
Nevertheless, Manmohan Singh should make a statement and ensure that there is no backlash by other phukkwits and things stay calm.
Yes, and so should Sunny Deol along with the Sikh director of film.
Govt asks people to remain calm
I may be going out on a limb here but I do have a theory. Lashkar-e-Toiba’s terrorist cadres have been caught or eliminated regularly (like a guy every few weeks) for the past couple of months in the Delhi, Dehra Dun, Lucknow, and Banglore.
LeT is usually active in Kashmir but they were the guys who also were involved in the Askhadaram temple bombing, the Vaishnu Devi bombings, Indian Airline hijacking in 2000, the Parliament bombings, and the Bombay blasts in 2002. These guys like to create rifts between groups within India and especially like to attack symbols of Indian govt and culture. They love attacking temples, govt bldgs (parliament), symbolic buildings (Gateway of India etc).
Recently the Intel Bureau uncovered their plan to attack the Infosys, Wipro & Microsoft offices in Banglare and also they were trying to hit the Indian Military Academy (and some other prestigious univs) in Dehra Dun. They might have hit the cinema or enocouraged some of the old fringe elements of the old Khalistani movement to do this.
While the movie is silly etc there is no reason to carry out this bombing. Silly movies are released all the time in India (remember how Hindus found Fire bad b/c they has lesbian love in the backdrop of the Vedas etc). I would be surprised if some grout like the LeT was not involved in someway in this (maybe just providing the explosives).
Either way I highly doubt that the Sikhs support this sort of behaviour, I bet many Sikhs were in the cinema at the time. Sunny Deol is a fav amongst the Sikhs and his movies do really well in the Punjab region.
I’m absolutely horrified. I don’t even know what to say, it’s so depressing. It’s so, so much worse than the “Behzti” controversy last year — at least no one got injured there.
I’m speechless.
Just another day of religious violence in India…If it’s Monday it must be the Hindus, if it’s Thursday it must be the Muslims, if it’s Sunday it must be the Sikhs….ah well…India eh? Death destruction violence and murder all in the name of God.
IED was used in this attack. I think at present LeT or Jaish or such groups who are actively using IEDs.
I agree with ASR’s theory. LeT has been trying to provoke a religious strife in India for a while. Akshardham attack was one of those attempts.
I have my doubts about whether groups like the LeT were involved — unless they were getting paid by the SGPC!
Seriously. If we’re speculating, I would actually speculate that someone in the SGPC may be behind the bombing.
For one thing, this seems too perfectly orchestrated for the kind of planning that would have hardline Muslim groups doing bombings just to cause unrest. (A Mosque or Mandir bombing would do that much more efficiently.) No, the goal of this violence was quite specific: to get the movie banned through intimidation. It succeeded; no theater in the country is now going to continue showing the film.
Secondly, keep in mind that it’s just a day or two after the SGPC’s requests to have the film banned were declined. (There were several stories in the Indian media about their complaints last week.) Before the bombing, those complaints seemed like more of the usual censorious fundamentalist hysteria, easily dismissed since the film looked like a relatively inoffensive flop.
And finally, look at motives. This bombing accomplishes the ends of the SGPC perfectly. The next time they complain about something, you can be sure that whoever the complaint is directed against will have to take them deadly seriously.
LeT is known for using IEDs but virtually all terrorist bombings involve IEDs.
Unless LeT’s bombs have some unique, identifiable element you can’t really say who it was. (example: hamas suicide bombers in Isreal use ballbearings for shrapnel)
The politicians and press make wild accusations without knowing the full facts, it stirs up even more trouble.
Must be the handiwork of some islamic terror groups with the patronage of ISI and probably some help from local muslims.
I haven’t seen the crappy movie Manish, but from what I gather, the movie merely portrays the life of a “jolly sardarji“!
Anyway, see my post on the subject.
Fictional screenplays aren’t real life photos, are they. Glad you’re safe.
Ah, it pays to be a geek! It just might save your life! While bombs were-ablasting in Satyam and Liberty, I was sitting in PVR Priya (www.pvrcinemas.com) watching Revenge of the Sith. The alternative choice – Jo Bole So Nihal, which I managed to dissauade my friends from watching – they all owe me their lives (and hate me for making them watch Star Wars, which I love with a passion). The good part about all this is the very small loss of life (which is of course no consoloation to the loved ones of the one person who did lose his/her life) but considering this took place in a theatre, and Indians known to panic, and Delhi-ites are especially notorious for being able to organize in ordered queues or crowds, I think we survived those blasts pretty much intact.
Manish, Be it real or reel, it’s how you interpret it that matters.
Amardeep
The SGPC theory doesnt work. The SGPC has condemned the blasts. They acted like typical conservative religious bodies and demanded a silly film be banned, but nobody inside the SGPC would facilitate such an action, mealy mouthed and half witted they may be, but they wouldnt be involved in something like this. Not least of all because they know by rough experience that India has a habit of butchering en masse its hated minority of the day, and those elements dont need much excuse, and the SGPC has been assiduous in protecting vulnerable Sikhs in this regard.
As far as they are concerned their ‘peaceful’ protests had borne fruit, anyway. The SGPC had succeeded in getting the film withdrawn from Punjab and other areas. In fact their objections were quite specific, change the name of the film and remove one Gurbani song.
Whoever did it, it wasnt the SGPC.
SGPC condemns bombings:
I know they condemned the bombings.
I’m not saying the whole organization was involved. But I wouldn’t be surprised if someone associated was involved. (Someone paid someone, etc.)
It’s total speculation; I’ll shut up about it until we know more.
Amardeep
What I will agree with you is this: that the nature of Sikh religious politics is calibrated to create an atmosphere of outrage and one- upmanship where different factions latch onto what one party says and then launches a campaign of ‘more Sikh than thou’ rhetoric in order to rabble rouse and gain their credentials in power games. What seems to have happened in this particular instance is that Vedanti and his people gave the film a clean bill of health, and then some other petty organisations saw an opportunity to raise the game and make a name for themselves and make them self appear to be protecting the Sikh dharam against the corruption of SGPC people like Vedanti etc. Bibi Jagir Kaur’s statements against the film are of a piece with the generalised atmosphere of defensiveness over the utilisation of religious iconography in a derogatory way throughout Indian society. Add that to a hot house atmosphere created by the competition and semi-feudal mentality of assorted religious bodies jostling for space and you have a recipe for hyping the issue into outer space regardless of what the facts of the matter are.
If it is a ‘Sikh’ individual/group that has commited this outrage I reckon it would be associated with one of the fringe outfits that were protesting in defiance of the SGPC when the film was released. Piddling little pipsqueaks.
You can apply my analysis to the strategies of Hindu and Muslim identity politics, by the way, this is a pan-Indian disease.
Anyway, I know one thing for sure, and that is that the Sikh quam will piss and spit on the perpetrators of this crime from a height.
it’s too unfortunate a thing to have happened.. and it’s not even clearly known who did it and why! It’s just speculation that it’s because of the movie..
Where the hell is Sunny Deol? Why hasn’t he made any statements yet?
What..you passed up an opportunity to headline this “Revenge of the Sikh”?
venkat
That would be a little tasteless dont you think? And stupid too. Dont you think? Or do you think? I dont know if you do.
Just read there was a third blast:
and “Film bombs in Delhi” isn’t flippant at all?
Wow.
Venkat
On a comparative scale, I reckon your suggestion trumps it for crassness and insensitivity by a mile.
PB ah, yes, the “comparative scale”. In my book, it’s all the same. Maybe I should have enclosed my original comment in quotes. I posted the alternative title because I thought the original one was offensive, to begin with. Make sense?
PS: Loved your expletives from the other post (at least I think it was you)
uh..its me again…i had the words sarcasm in html tags before the word quotes, but it seems to have taken it off…
venkat
Sorry man. I just stubbed my toe coming out of the bathroom this morning and it caused my sarcasm detection nodes to fail (they are located in my toe)
Shake hands.
Police say blasts not linked to film
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200505231431.htm
So whats going on?
Looks like ASR was right in theory:
Nice to see the two unrelated Vijs back at it! By the way, even if the sardarji is jolly, I don’t blame him.
I wont be at all surprised if LeT was behind it. I dont think many people think that Sikh militancy is making a comeback since there is just no support for it. The LeT/ISI game plan is to create terror as a means to instigate religious riots within India.
If you look at the Gateway of India bomb blasts a while back there wasnt any rioting after that. Surely the Shiv Sena could have unleashed hell but I think (hopefully) that even a lot of the nutty fringe elements are realizing what the game plan of these groups is. They want the Shiv Saniks and their ilk to go on rampage and the best way to fight them is by not doing what they want them to do. These sore of acts are to destroy the very “idea/fabric of India” as Nehru would say.
Looks like it was Lashkar e Toiba after all.
The Khalistani movement has pretty much died down, specially at a time when the prime minister of india is Sikh.
So there is no real motivation behind this other than to attempt to destablize the country.
Manish
Will you make another post highlighting this news story?
It seems assumptions were made prematurely in quite a long post. It would be nice to at least acknowledge that there is a different angle to this.
I’ll probably wait until the investigation winds down. There are many LeT types targeting Delhi, and they commonly use RDX. To date they’ve targeted symbolic targets like the Parliament building and the Kashmir bus. The anniversary of the Congress government angle doesn’t make much sense because its BJP predecessor was perceived as more hardline anti-Muslim and anti-terrorist. Hitting two movie theaters doesn’t fit their MO, IMO.
Manish,
Although a LeT guy was arrested with RDX just a few hours after the bombings, lets give him the benefit of the doubt.
Although the Police Commissioner states there is no link between the film and the bombs, you don’t even wait for the evidence to link the bombings to either the film or to the Sikhs bombs… just go on blaming the Sikhs as they must have done it, evidence or no evidence… no benefit of doubt even implied in your post.
Why give LeT terrorist the benefit of the doubt but not Sikhs?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4575267.stm
The Indian defence minister has said that two week-end bomb attacks on cinemas in the capital Delhi appeared to be the work of “terrorists”.
Police initially thought the attacks may were carried out by Sikhs, but they now suspect Islamic militants.
“It is not the work of some agitated people. It is the work of some organised terrorist group who are trying to take advantage of ruffled sentiments of a particular community,” Mr Mukherjee said.
“We don’t think the attack was to protest the film’s screening as we first thought,” a senior Delhi police official told the AFP news agency.
“The blasts are not the work of an amateur group. Islamic rebel groups often use plastic explosives like those used on Sunday,” he said.
“Plastic explosives without metal shrapnel need a lot of heat to set them off and are favourites with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad,” he added. “These explosives can go undetected by metal detectors.”
Benefit of the doubt? You really should see someone about that reading comprehension problem:
The defence minister also said:
And that’s where I leave it for now.