Jaipur bombings

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Jaipur bombings

Location

Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Coordinates

26.9260N 75.8235E

Date

13 May 2008 19:30 (UTC+5:30)

Attack type

Bicycle bombs, ammonium nitrate, RDX

Death(s)

80[1]

Injured

216

Perpetrator(s)

Indian Mujahideen (claimed responsibility) Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami(suspected)

The 13 May 2008 Jaipur bombings were a series of nine synchronized bomb blasts that took place within a span of fifteen minutes at locations in Jaipur, the capital city of theIndian state of Rajasthan, and a tourist destination. A tenth bomb was found and defused. injured.
[3] [2]

Official reports confirm 63 dead with 216 or more people

The bombings shocked most of India and resulted in widespread condemnation from leaders across
[4]

the world with many countries showing solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism. This was the first time terrorists had targeted Jaipur,
[5]

India's tenth largest city and one of its most popular tourist

destinations. The bombs went off near historic monuments at one of the busiest times of the day. One of the bombs exploded close to Jaipur's most famous landmark, the historic Hawa Mahal (palace of winds). Two days after the blasts, a previously unknown Islamic militant group
[7] [6]

known as Indian Mujahideen, sent an eand said they would "demolish the faith

mail to Indian media in which they claimed responsibility for the attacks
[9]

[8]

(Hinduism)" of the "infidels of India". Though the Indian authorities said that the e-mail was genuine, they also added that there were some contradictions and the primary motive of the e-mail might be to mislead investigating agencies.
[10]

Indian Home Ministry sources said that a Bangladesh-based organization, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-

Islami (HuJI) or "Islamic Holy War Movement", was suspected to be behind the attack. The police were also able to find credible evidence linking the suspected bombers to Bangladeshi militants
[11]

which resulted in backlash

against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Rajasthan. migrants in Rajasthan.

Contents
[hide]
[13]

[12]

India plans to expel more than 50,000 Bangladeshi

1 Bombings 2 Aftermath

o o o o o

2.1 Investigations 2.2 Claim of responsibility 2.3 Domestic reactions 2.4 International reactions 2.5 Effect on IPL

3 See also 4 References

[edit]Bombings The following areas were bombed using RDX placed in bicycles:

Bari Choupar Manak Chowk Police Station area Johari Bazar Tripolia Bazar Choti Choupar Kotwali area
[2]

Nine bombs at seven locations exploded within fifteen minutes, starting at 7:10 PM.

The blasts were

synchronized to inflict maximum casualties. The first two blasts occurred at Manak Chowk and as the crowd ran towards Johri Bazar another two blasts near the National Handloom Centre blocked the exit point, pushing back the panicked crowd towards Tripolia Bazar and Chandpol area, where subsequent blasts caused maximum fatalities.
[14]

[edit]Aftermath
[show]v d e

Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)

The serial blasts created panic among Jaipur residents following which several units of police and Indian Paramilitary Forces were deployed throughout the city. Most of the victims were taken to Sawai Man Singh Hospital. The doctors used the mobile phones of the dead to inform the victims' relatives.
[15]

A curfew was

imposed in parts of Jaipur and the state government of Rajasthan had ordered all units of police to maintain extra

vigilance across the state. The Government of India deployed several units of the elite National Security Guards in Jaipur to aid the law and order forces in the city. sent.
[17] [16]

400 men from Rapid Action Force were also

A few hours after the blasts, India declared high alert across several major Indian cities

including Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay) andChennai (Madras). Security in other major Indian tourist destinations like Panaji and Agra was also increased.
[18]

Delhi Police also sent a team to Jaipur to check whether the terrorist
[19]

attacks there had any links with previous terrorists attacks in Delhi. [edit]Investigations

India ordered an inquiry into the blasts while the Indian Home Ministry raised concerns that certain 'foreign elements' might be behind the bombings. The police has found credible evidence linking the bombing suspects to Bangladesh-based militants.
[20]

Consequently, Rajasthan state government took severe measures against illegal

[12]

Bangladeshi immigrants in the state.

Four people were detained for questioning by Rajasthan police regarding the blasts. A lead has already been traced by the police.
[21]

Initial police investigations suggested the involvement of several Islamic militant

organizations like Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Student's Islamic Movement of India or Pakistanbased Lashkar-e-Toiba.
[22]

Concerns are also being raised about the possible involvement of al-Qaeda.
[24]

[23]

In a

statement, militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba denied its involvement in the attacks.

Police officials say that the bomb blasts in Jaipur follow patterns similar to those observed during the bomb blasts in Hyderabad andVaranasi.
[25]

The Indian Police revealed that the bombs planted were of low intensity but by
[26]

placing them in highly crowded areas, the terrorists had ensured that the death toll would be high.

The Times

of India quoted Additional Director General of Rajasthan Policeofficer as saying that the terrorists had planted "highly explosive RDX" with timers on bicycles, a technique which was also used during the terror attacks in Uttar Pradesh in November, 2007 (in which the involvement of Bangladesh's Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami is also suspected).
[27]

The police have also found striking similarity between the Jaipur bombings and Hyderabad

bombings. On May 15, a police officer said, About 1.5 kg of Neogel with metal ball-bearings was put in boat-shaped wooden cases in Jaipur and Hyderabad. In both cases, timers were used. The similarities in the signatures of the bombs are shocking.
[28]

The police said that they had identified the people who had sold bicycles to the attackers.

[29]

The bicycle

sellers said that the bombers spoke Bengali language, adding credibility to police claims that the terrorists might be Bangladeshis. A police official said, The employees [of the bicycle shop] have told us that they did not look like Rajasthanis and spoke in broken Hindi. In fact they were speaking Bengali, which has again given rise to speculation that the militants were from a Bangladeshi outfit.
[20]

On May 14, the Indian police released a sketch of a suspect. sketches of three additional suspects. a few days back.
[32] [31]

[30]

A day later, the police released

A shop owner in Udaipur claimed he saw one of the suspects

[edit]Claim

of responsibility

A little-known group Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attacks and sent a video to Aaj Tak via e-mail supposedly featuring the bicycles wrapped with explosives used during the terror attacks. The address from which the e-mail was sent was reported to be "guru_alhindi_jaipur@yahoo.co.uk". on one of the bicycles as '129489'.
[8]

News agencies reported that the video showed a serial number Police officials confirmed that the bicycle used in Choti Choupad

[33]

blast had the same serial number. However, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also suggested that a secondary objective of the e-mail could also be to mislead the investigating authorities.
[34]

In the e-mail, the group threatened an "open war against India" unless it stops supporting the United States and United Kingdom on "international issues". (Hinduism)" of the "infidels of India". [edit]Domestic
[9] [35]

It also said that it would "demolish the faith

reactions

"This is not a crime, we are in the middle of a war." Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan Chief Minister[34]

The President of India, Pratibha Patil expressed her grief at the loss of lives in the blasts and appealed for calm while the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, pledged the Government of India's support to the state Government of Rajasthanand the victims' families.
[36]

The Prime Minister also said:

The terrorists have the advantage of attacking by stealth but there is no lack of firmness in dealing with this menace. All possible precautions are being taken. It would be premature on my part to comment anything as it will interfere with the investigations.
[37]

Singh also defended the Governments intelligence mechanisms saying the number of cases that the intelligence agencies had anticipated and prevented was "significant".
[38]

He observed:

There are many cases where security agencies have foiled attempts. Many cases were anticipated. I dont want to talk about what they were able to prevent.
[37]

Indian Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, conveyed his condolences to the victims' families.

[39]

The

Government of India announced 100,000INR compensation to the next kin of those dead in the terrorist attacks and 50,000 INR ex gratia to those seriously injured. meeting of Indian cabinet ministers was also held later during the day.
[40]

An emergency

[41]

Foreign Minister of

India, Pranab Mukherjee, said he was going to raise the issue of 'cross-border terrorism' with Pakistan's government during his visit to Islamabad next week.
[42]

Indian Finance Minister, P.

[43]

Chidambaram, said that the blasts won't affect India's business climate.

India's National

Security Advisor, M.K. Narayanan, said that the intelligence agencies were looking into all possible aspects of the blasts and no major breakthrough in ongoing investigations were made.
[44]

The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, said "I condemn this blast. They have tried to ruin the communal harmony of the state but they will not succeed. Never in the history of Rajasthan such a heinous incident has happened and this is not an attack on the state but on the nation". She also added, "there are some slender leads on which the state agencies are working and its difficult to name any terror outfit at present". The Chief Minister also laid emphasis on a new anti-terror legislation either similar to POTA or to the one in the neighbouring state of Gujarat. She also criticised the President of India for not signing an antiterror bill passed by theRajasthan Legislative Assembly in 2006.
[45]

Raje also expressed her

concern that the terrorist attacks in Jaipur will negatively affect the tourism industry there.
[46]

The Chief Minister also said that Rajasthan will have its own anti-terror force and
[47]

also proposed a joint task force between Indian states.

India's main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), blamed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-government for not taking adequate measures against terrorism in India and re-newed calls for POTA were made.
[48]

The BJP also demanded that

Pakistan'sInter-Services Intelligence should be on international terror watchlist.

[49]

India's Leader of Opposition, L. K. Advani, said "The blasts are reflective of the states'
[50]

inability to preempt these strikes."

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi accused the UPA

government of adopting double standards on terrorism and said, "The UPA-led government at the Centre should make the people realise that it is committed to curb terrorism spreading in our country."
[51]

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur_bombings

News No. 02 1

Serial bomb blasts in Jaipur (India): 13 May 2008 The Incident A series of bomb blasts took place in Jaipur on Tuesday, 13 May 2008. Media sources indicated that eight explosions occurred in quick succession within a span of twenty minutes from 7.25 p.m. to 7.45 p.m1. The bombs went off in the crowded market districts of Tripolia Bazar, Johari Bazar, Manas Chowk, Badi Choupal and Choti Choupal. Two of the blasts occurred outside Hindu temples at Sanganeri Gate and Chandpole. Another took place in the vicinity of the renowned Hawa Mahal, a popular tourist attraction. Reports stated that one explosive device had been defused by the bomb disposal squad 2. The police said that 75 people died from the bombings and the stampede that ensued3. At least 150 people sustained injuries. The actual number of casualties is expected to rise. Bicycles stationed at the sites where the bombings occurred had served as a means of concealing the explosive devices used. Police made two arrests and detained several others for questioning on Wednesday, 14 May 2008. One of the men questioned had allegedly sold nine bicycles to a single individual two days prior to the blasts4. Location
56
1 http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/popup/blast_1.htm 2 60

killed, 200 injured as terror strikes Pink City, Daily Excelsior, 14/05/2008, http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ 3 Terror hits Jaipur: 8 blasts, over 75 killed Indian Express, 14/05/2008, http://www.expressindia.com/latestnews/ Terror-hits-Jaipur-Eight-blasts-over-75-killed/309054 4 Hindus and Muslims alike offer help, The Straits Times, 15/05/2008 5 60 killed, 150 injured as terror strikes Pink city, The Hindu, 14/05/2008, http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/14/stories/2008051460640100.htm 6 http://www.ibnlive.com/news/jaipur-blasts-cops-detain-8-curfew-clamped/65243-3.html

Modus Operandi The explosive device defused by the bomb disposal squad was found attached to a bicycle at one of the bomb sites at Chandpole Gate. This piece of evidence substantiated reports which claimed that vehicles including bicycles were used by terrorists to conceal the bombs7. Intelligence officials said both RDX and ammonium-nitrate were used to make the bombs8. Other preliminary findings indicate that the bombs were packed with metal splinters or ball bearings to maximize damage in crowded areas. Sources disagree on the mode of detonation of the devices with some claiming that the bombs may have been set off by remote control while others suggest that timers were used9. The use of such homemade bombs with RDX or TNT can be patterned with previous bombings in Malegaon in 2006 and Uttar Pradesh in November 2007. Chemical analysis of the unexploded bomb which was recovered is expected to yield further information. Pictures from the blast site10
7 60

killed, 150 injured as terror strikes Pink city, The Hindu, 14/05/2008, http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/14/stories/2008051460640100.htm 8 Hindus and Muslims alike offer help, The Straits Times, 15/05/2008

9 60

killed, 150 injured as terror strikes Pink city, The Hindu, 14/05/2008, http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/14/stories/2008051460640100.htm 10 http://www.ibnlive.com/photogallery/828-18.html#view_start

Who may be responsible? The Indian Home Ministry has suggested that the Bangladeshi- based group Harkat ul-Jehadi Islami-Bangladesh (HuJI-B) could be the likely perpetrators11.The tactic of attaching bombs into bicycles bears a resemblance to that suspected to have been employed by HuJI-B during the 2007 bombing at the Uttar Pradesh court premises 12. A joint director of the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) said that the department had received an indication last year that an attack in Jaipur was a possibility13. Mohammed Jalaluddin, who was arrested in Lucknow in 2007, had claimed during investigations by the IIB that Jaipur was a prime target for Huji-B activity. At the time of his arrest, Jalaluddin was suspected to be the Indian operations commander of HuJI-B. Police and central intelligence sources have also said that the bombing may be a collaborative effort between HuJI-B, Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)14. After a spate of arrests of SIMI members on 27 March 2008, security officials claimed that SIMI members had joined Pakistan-based militant organisations like the LeT and were planning to conduct serial attacks in various cities in India15. The serial blasts in Jaipur could also have been carried out in retaliation to the arrests in March 2008.
11 Ibid. 12 Jaipur

blasts: HuJI hand suspected, Zee News, 15/05/2008, http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=442951&sid=nat 13 Who is behind the India bombings?, British Broadcasting Corporation, 14/05/2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7401573.stm 14 HuJI, SIMI stamp on attacks, The Hindustan Times, 14/05/2008, http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=7c64f4d0-1a5f-4036-94bcb097a340eb37& ParentID=3ef46c6a-5812-43de-8744e71937ecb025&&Headline=HuJI%2c+SIMI+stamp+on+attacks 15 SIMI activists were planning serial blasts, Times of India, 19/03/2008

Reports have emerged stating that a group named Indian Mujahideen sent out an email to the media claiming responsibility for the blasts16. Following the blasts in Uttar Pradesh on 23 Nov 2007, a similar email was sent out to television stations from a group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen. In the email, the group stated that it represented the interests of Muslims in India and did not seek to align itself with any known terrorist group. Other reports however, have denied the independent existence of such a group and claim that it is a HuJI-B and SIMI creation17. Analysis There is no precise information on the actual target of the attacks. The fact that two Hindu temples were among the bomb sites fits into a previously observed trend of bombings in close proximity of religious establishments (both Hindu and Muslim) in different parts of India in the past few years, viz. Mecca masjid blast in March 2007, blasts at the Sufi shrine in Ajmer in 2007, bombings in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi in 2006. The underlying motive may be to foment communal tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities in India. Additionally, the blasts took place on a Tuesday evening (Tuesday being traditionally the day to worship Lord Hanuman and when temples are usually crowded with people after office hours). This would seem to suggest that Hindus were targeted. Moreover, Rajasthan (of which Jaipur is the capital) is currently ruled by a Hindu

right-wing nationalist party - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which was allegedly involved in the destruction of the Babri masjid in 1992. It was this event, followed by the Gujarat carnage in 2002 which resulted in deep anti-government sentiments within the Muslim population in India. Jaipur which is a vibrant and popular tourist hub in India attracts a large number of tourists- American, European, Jewish and others. Targeting tourist hotspots like the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur would be an ideal tactic for groups such as SIMI, LeT and HuJI to attract international attention to their cause18. The fact that Jaipur was set to play host to a high-profile Indian Premier League cricket game on Saturday, 17 May 2008 could also have been among the motivating factors behind the timing of the blasts. Implications
16 Jaipur

blasts: UP cybercaf owner detained, Indian Express, 15/05/2008, http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Jaipur-blasts-UP-cyber-cafe-owner-staff-detained/310092/ 17 There is no outfit called Indian Mujahideen, Rediff News, 15/05/2008, http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/may/15rajblast9.htm 18 LeT aims to liberate Jammu and Kashmir and create three distinct Muslim homelands in India. The first consisting of Kashmir and Pakistan, and the second and third of areas in North and South India respectively. SIMIs objective is to ultimately establish a Dar-ul-Islam (Land of Islam) in India through forceful conversion to Islam or killing. HuJI-B seeks to instate Islamic Hukumat (rule) in Bangladesh through violent means.

In the aftermath of the incident, there has been no communal violence reported. The fact that the published list of victims includes members from both Hindu and Muslim communities has probably alleviated any tensions. In hospitals, both Hindus and Muslims have come forth to offer aid to those injured during the bombings. If the intended objective of the perpetrators was to incite communal tensions, it has not worked. The Jaipur bombings come amidst reports of firing across the line of control dividing Himalayan territory by Pakistani forces and the alleged infiltration into Samba, Kashmir by militants. Media reports have insinuated that statements from Indian government officials mentioning a foreign hand in the Jaipur blasts are probably referring to Pakistan19. These issues are likely to be discussed during Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjees visit to Islamabad from 20-21 May 2008. Given that elections in Rajasthan are six months away, the bomb blasts could have an impact on the domestic political scene as well. The BJP is likely to point to a worrying trend of terrorist activity which the central government must act quickly to redress. The ruling Congress Party on the other hand, may respond by accusing the BJP of losing its grip on law and order in Rajasthan20. The blasts could feature as the subject of a political blame game between the BJP and the Congress Party. Questions have been raised about the failure of intelligence surrounding the blasts. The police said that they had not received any intelligence on possible attacks in Jaipur. However, the IIBs claim that they did issue an alert after the Jalaluddin arrest signals that the process of information sharing between government agencies remains ineffective. Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Prakash Jaiswal acknowledged that there is a need for a federal intelligence agency which would follow up on early leads to suppress terrorist activity21. Tourism contributes 15% to the state economy in Rajasthan. Rajasthan also accounts for about 11.2% of foreign tourist arrivals and 3.3% of domestic tourist arrivals in India. With the blasts in Ajmer in 2007 and now in Jaipur in 2008, the number of foreign and domestic tourists coming into the state may be affected, at least for the time being.

19 Who

is behind the India bombings?, British Broadcasting Corporation, 14/05/2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7401573.stm 20 BJP, Cong set to play blame game, Hindustan Times, 14/05/2008, http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=0df974ff-58a9-495d-bc75f6903c4080b8&ParentID=3ef46c6a-5812-43de-8744e71937ecb025&&Headline=BJP%2c+Cong+set+to+play+blame+game 21 Jaipur blasts should not affect India-Pakistan peace process, NewKerala, 14/05/2008, http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=60250