On Monday of this week I wrote this post (Lingering Tension in Gujarat) examining a Christian Science Monitor article on the growing powder keg of tensions in the Indian state of Gujarat (where my family emigrated from). The very next day the Mumbai Train Attacks occurred. Could these two seemingly unrelated topics be somehow related? I am the LAST person to jump to conclusions involving terrorism but I do want to point out some facts that the media is now reporting. In the passages below I have highlighted facts so as to separate from rumor:
Gujarat appears to loom large over the Mumbai blasts. That’s apparently why terrorists targeted only the Western Railway tracks and that too only first-class coaches.
Sources said the aim apparently was to hit moneyed Gujaratis, many of whom stay in suburbs of Vile Parle, Kandivli, Malad and Borivli along the Western Railway and travel first class.
The Lashkar-e-Taiba, intelligence reports suggest, has recruited local youths saying that they should take revenge for the atrocities heaped on the minority community in Gujarat where the Narendra Modi government is heavily funded by the rich Gujarati businessmen of Mumbai.It is not for nothing that Modi is coming here early next week to meet community leaders. [Link]
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p>What else do we know?
The aftershocks of Tuesday’s serial blasts in Mumbai shook Gujarat deeply. A large number of people killed and injured were Gujaratis.
At least seven people, mostly diamond traders, were killed in the blasts, while another eight diamond traders were reported to be missing till Wednesday evening. [Link]
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Here is more:
The Railways on Wednesday cancelled the Shatabdi Express from Ahmedabad and Mumbai and three trains originating from Mumbai.
The 2010 Shatabdi from Ahmedabad to Mumbai and its counterpart from Mumbai Train 2009, the 9023 Ferozepur Express, the 9215 Saurashtra Express from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and the 239B Ahmedabad passenger train have also been cancelled for the day. [Link]
And more:
Officials of Gujarat’s ATS also said they were working with their Maharashtra counterparts to trace the terrorists involved in the bombings.
The Gujarat Police had last month questioned two suspected LeT militants arrested in Maharashtra in connection with a blast at the Ahmedabad railway station that injured 25 people.
The two militants had been arrested in Aurangabad with a cache of arms on May 19. [Link]
And this last one:
Was the bomb explosion at the Ahmedabad railway station on February 19 a trial run for the string of blasts that left Mumbai bleeding on Tuesday?
Investigators are probing a possible link between these two incidents and have exchanged information with their counterparts in Mumbai. The use of RDX, timer devices and trains are common to both incidents.
The blast toll in Ahmedabad was fortunately not high because the explosion happened in the night. But the manner in which the roof of the platform got blown off gave an idea of the power packed in the bomb and the damage it could have caused. [Link]
I hope this isn’t about Gujarat and that these are just rumors. If this violence is related to the state of affairs in Gujarat then all of India better get involved now. India can no longer allow the status quo (e.g. poor leadership, unaddressed concerns on both sides) in Gujarat to continue because a powder keg like this can threaten the whole country. And I pray that this doesn’t result in a violent backlash if it turns out to be true.
Meet some of Mumbai’s saviours
Bombay cops rule out RDX in the blasts: http://ww3.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/july/140547.htm
Check your facts, dude. And if that’s the reason, then it justifies the bombay railway bombings, right? Shame on you …
It’s irrelevent if Hezbollah is a minority party. The Lebanese government allows them to control southern Lebanon unmolested, from where Hezbollah has safe haven to launch attacks.
“If this violence is related to the state of affairs in Gujarat then all of India better get involved now. India can no longer allow the status quo (e.g. poor leadership, unaddressed concerns on both sides) in Gujarat to continue”
Can you please elaborate? Are you suggesting that alleged “poor leadership” etc in Gujarat justifies the macabre killings in Mumbai’s trains? I hope that’s not what you are saying.
To the touthor of this post – I am assuming that you are an American of Indian origin? That is the only thing, which can excuse you of such utter idiocy.
OTOH, I finally understand the origin of the [much deserved] label – ABCD.
reminds of an old hindi proverb, which would be quite apt under the circumstances – dhobi ka kuta, na ghar ka na ghat ka….
Al Mujahideen for Debauchery
It is very easy to make those comments about ‘maturity of Indian polity’ leading a plush life in the United States. The trouble with India is not terrorists but people conscious of their inferiority complex always seeking to impress and keep an image on the world stage, particularly their western hosts. Our enemies senses that and cuntries that fit in our armpits have the impunity to strike at civilians at rush hour on Hindu festivals
Abhi – shame on you for your “don’t hold me to journalistic standards”.
Sure, may be we should not expect you to hold even standards of simple logic. Your opinion is insulated to even a list of names of casualties.
What do you want? A private interview with the terrorists to convince you that they targeted Gujaratis or not?
This Sunday Express reporter actually did some legwork and brainwork before offering an explanation as to why the bombs were placed where they were.
Our enemies senses that and cuntries that fit in our armpits have the impunity to strike at civilians at rush hour on Hindu festivals
Yes, but you have nuclear armpits 😉
My point is not to commend India on how it deals with Pakistan. My point was to commend India on how it deals with the valley (as the Kashmiris apparently set up the blasts).
i hope that india make kashmir and gujrat independence, we dont want them states..its causing to much damage to indian economy i hope our goverment makes them independece
India deserved it for funding and training the LTTE.
Miss Shafraz,
FYI – India has not supported LTTE for more than a decade. Indeed, the Indian govt would love to get their hands on the top LTTE management,, so they may prosecute them for Rajiv Gandhi’s murder.
Btw, ever heard of the IPKF? If not, you seriously need to finish or maybe start your education, Miss…..really.
What’s so great about the IPKF? The IPKF raped countless Tamil women and killed innocent civilians. It is known as the Indian People Killing Force.
“..the Indian Army came here, massacred innocent Tamil civilians, raped our women and plundered our valuables. The acronym IPKF will always stand for Indian People Killing Force where we are concerned. We will one day erect a memorial in the heart of Jaffna town, in the centre of Hospital Road, in memory of all the innocent civilians – ranging in age from the very old past 80 to young children massacred by the IPKF and to the women who were raped.”
http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/warcrimes/040321somasekeram.htm
i think gujeratis were paritcularly targetted all gujjus send their money back to their state and families. All the more they even send money to the gujerat government and hindu political parties. To target these gujju business men in bombay would be quite reasonable, as they are the ones who send money back to their native land. Gujerat comprises of many dominant hindu communities –starting wid the Gujjus offcourse, the sindhis/baluchis, the kucchis, the lohanas, the maharashtrians. The gujjus are yet a strong staunch hindu community, and many gujjus and sindhis are pro-hindus because they have seen the days of bloodshed and parition during pre-partition era. They’ve gotta be fanatic hindus and definitely either a VHP or BJP! a state that had once flourished with diverse unique culture, comprising of the parsis,the boris, the gujju muslims, the potuguese, is nowa cradle for fanatic hindu communities. No body wishes to repeat the history of the good-old karachi days! please do not listen to that L.K. Advani and people of his background, they are very fanatic,gujerat is gujerat when it is united and diverse with economy!
are u being racist to the sindhis????!! watch out man! we do our business and live peacefully we are sufis in our nature. Although many sindhis have joined many hindu political parties, but they are not the route cause of the gujju problem. The gujerat governor is yet a gujju–mind u, not a sindhi to decide for gujerat! how would we even initiate hindu fanatism
but honestly, if i had the chance then Yes i m a fanatic, unlike sufi sindhis, and if i were a governor of gujerat i would completely make it hindu. But in no case has a sindhi tried to excite fanatism in gujerat till yet—I M WAITING FOR ONE!!