India has experienced a series of major bomb blasts over the years, often with devastating consequences. The news channel NDTV 24×7 categorizes these as major incidents, reflecting the scale of the problem. The following are notable examples:
- July 26, 2008: Serial blasts in Ahmedabad killed at least 30 people and injured more than 100.
July 25, 2008: Nine explosions in Bangalore resulted in two deaths and twelve injuries.
May 2008: Eight serial blasts in Jaipur within 12 minutes left 65 dead and over 150 injured.
January 2008: A terrorist attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur killed 8.
October 2007: A blast inside Ajmer Sharif shrine during Ramadan killed 2.
August 2007: A terrorist strike in Hyderabad killed 30 and injured 60.
May 2007: A bomb at Mecca mosque in Hyderabad killed 11 people.
February 19, 2007: Two bombs exploded aboard a train bound from India to Pakistan, burning to death at least 66 passengers, mostly Pakistanis.
September 2006: Twin blasts at a mosque in Malegaon killed 30 and injured 100.
July 2006: Seven bombs on Mumbai’s trains killed over 200 and injured 700.
March 2006: Twin bombings at a train station and a temple in Varanasi killed 20 people.
October 2005: Three bombs in New Delhi markets before Diwali killed 62 and injured hundreds.
August 2003: Explosions in Mumbai killed 52 and wounded more than 100.
September 24, 2002: Attack on Akshardham Hindu temple in Gujarat resulted in 31 deaths and more than 80 injuries.
May 14, 2002: Militants attacked an army camp near Jammu, killing over 30, including soldiers’ families.
December 13, 2001: Attack on the Indian Parliament in New Delhi resulted in over a dozen deaths, including five gunmen.
October 1, 2001: Militants stormed the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly complex, killing about 35 people.
March 1993: Mumbai serial bombings killed 257 people and injured more than 1,100.
Recently, a suspect in the Jaipur bomb blasts, a Muslim man who teaches at a madarsa in Varanasi, was arrested. This led to significant unrest, with thousands of Muslims protesting and blocking traffic, demanding his release. The situation escalated when the head of a prominent mosque in Benares intervened, promising to secure his release by a specific deadline. Despite police resistance, the suspect was eventually released on bail after extensive protests, including the involvement of local political leaders. This situation underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement and the delicate balance required in handling communal tensions and terrorism-related issues.
The difficulty in prosecuting suspects and managing public protests reflects the broader struggles in combating terrorism while maintaining social harmony.