Terror struck at the seat of justice on Wednesday. Delhi High Court, less than five km from Parliament and the Prime Minister’s residence, witnessed a bomb attack that killed 11 people, injured more than 60 and caused a crater more than two feet wide. Caused by a high-intensity improvised explosive device packed in a briefcase, the bomb exploded around 10:15 am. Soon after, radical Islamic group, Harkat-ul-Jihadi al-Islami (HuJI), claimed responsibility and threatened if the death sentence of Afzal Guru (convicted in the Parliament attack case) was not repealed immediately, the group would carry out similar blasts at every major high court in the country and the Supreme Court.
Most of the injured suffered burn injuries and were taken to the Safdarjung hospital. Many lost limbs. Around 300 people were standing near the parapet wall where the briefcase was kept when it exploded. Limbs flew around, blood splashed and a brief silence followed the explosion, witnesses said.
A high alert has been sounded across the country, especially in Maharashtra because of the ongoing Ganapati festival.
| TERRORIST ATTACKS SINCE 26/11 |
| 2008, November 26-29: Coordinated bombing and shooting attacks in Mumbai;166 killed |
| 2010, February 10: Bomb attack in a Pune restaurant; eight people killed |
| 2010, April 17: Two bombs explode outside a packed cricket stadium in Bangalore; one killed and 15 wounded |
| 2010, December 7: Blast outside a temple in Varanasi; several wounded |
| 2011, July 13: Three simultaneous blasts in Mumbai; 20 killed |
| 2011, September 7: Blast outside Delhi High Court; 11 killed |
| Source: Agencies |
The attack came just three months after serial blasts were carried out in Mumbai on July 13. Parliament adjourned for a few hours to enable home minister P Chidambaram to return with more information. In the Rajya Sabha, the entire House stood as one behind the government and said it was not a time to score political brownie points. Not one MP reminded the government that no arrests had been made in the July Mumbai bombings case, or criticised the home minister. Some MPs said the tendency to blame minorities for terrorist attacks must be avoided. This is not the first time Delhi High Court has become a terrorist target.
A low-intensity blast had taken place there on May 25.
Delhi Police were collecting evidence and released two sketches of suspected terrorists, one seen in a white shirt and carrying a briefcase. Police said one suspect was around 26 years old and the second about 50.
The home ministry has asked the national investigation agency (NIA) to take over the probe. It is the first time a terrorism case has been directly transferred to NIA without the involvement of the local police.
Chemical tests by forensic experts found traces of PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) at the site. The same explosive was used in the US in 2009 in an attempt to bring down a Northwest Airlines flight. Scientists say 100 gm of the substance is enough to blow up a car. A team of national security guard (NSG) with three Major-rank officers visited the site with forensic experts.
A thorough police probe was also on, said special secretary (internal security) U K Bansal.
Chidambaram told Parliament, “Police was on high alert because the Parliament is in session. Intelligence agencies constantly share intelligence inputs with Delhi Police. Intelligence pertaining to threats emanating from certain groups was shared with Delhi Police in July, 2011. The government is determined to track down the perpetrators of this horrific crime and bring them to justice.” From Dhaka, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “I just heard the sad news from Delhi about the bomb blast. I am told 10 people have been killed. This is a cowardly act of terrorist nature. We will deal with it.” The Prime Minister visited some of the injured at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital soon after he landed in Delhi.
US ambassador Peter Burleigh condemned the bombing, saying, “Terrorism is a crime that affects us all. Bombings like today’s demonstrate that our shared struggle continues against those who would commit such atrocities. The US remains shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terror, and will provide whatever assistance possible to help bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,” Burleigh said.
