Bomb Blasts Kill Dozens In India

Police Say 60 Dead As 7 Bombs Rip Through Crowded Parts Of Western Indian City

(AP)  A series of bombs exploded across the ancient city of Jaipur on Tuesday, killing at least 60 people and transforming busy markets, a jewelry bazaar and a Hindu temple into scenes of carnage.

All seven blasts were within the old walls of the western city known for its pink-hued palaces, and suspicion quickly fell on Islamic militant groups blamed for a string of attacks in India in recent years. Police said an eighth bomb was found and defused by police.

"Obviously, it's a terrorist" attack, said A.S. Gill, the police chief of Rajasthan, the state where Jaipur is located. "The way it has been done, the attempt was to cause the maximum damage to human life."

The explosions began around 7:30 p.m. One went off at a market near a temple dedicated to the Hindu monkey god Hanuman. Tuesday is the day of worship set aside for Hanuman, and the temple was crowded with people offering prayers on the way home from work.

Another bomb detonated near the Johari Bazaar, the city's jewelry market that is a popular destination for tourists. The tourist season ended in March, however, and there were no immediate indication that foreigners had been caught in any of the explosions.

Parikshit Bhandari, who saw the attack near the jewelry market, said there was "blood all around and wounded people crawling on the ground."

Bombing sites were littered with dropped shopping bags, mangled bicycles, damaged cars and overturned bicycle rickshaws, the most popular mode of transport in the crowded lanes of Jaipur.

A senior Rajasthan police officer, A.K. Jain, said 60 people were killed and 150 wounded.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, as is the case with most bombings in India. But within hours of the blasts, authorities were suggesting that blame would eventually fall on Pakistan and the Islamic militant groups that India accuses its neighbor of backing.

"One can't rule out the involvement of a foreign power," said India's junior home minister, Sriprakash Jaiswal, using language commonly understood to refer to Pakistan.

Jaiswal refused to say if he was talking about Pakistan. But he suggested the bombings were connected to previous attacks on India, saying that "the blasts are part of a big conspiracy."

Indian authorities have blamed Pakistan-based Islamic extremist groups for a spate of bombings that have killed nearly 400 people in this predominantly Hindu country of 1.1 billion people since 2005. Pakistan, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, denies any role in the bombings.

The attacks have run the gamut from July 2006 train bombings that killed nearly 200 people in Mumbai, India's financial center, to small blasts like the one that struck a Muslim shrine in Rajasthan last year, killing two people.

Each new bombing has brought fears of a fresh outbreak of the violence between Hindus and Muslims that has sporadically bled India throughout its history, and authorities appealed for calm after Tuesday's attack.

Authorities quickly ordered alerts in New Delhi, Mumbai and several other cities. Security was also stepped up at airports and railway stations across the country.

In Washington, the U.S. government condemned the attack. "The United States stands with the government and people of India in their ongoing fight to eliminate the scourge terrorism," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Jaipur is one of the major attractions in Rajasthan, a desert region dotted with palaces and temples that draw hundreds of thousands of Indians and foreigners every year, from bargain-hunting backpackers to celebrities like Mick Jagger.

While no foreigners appeared to have been caught in Tuesday's attack, it caused worries in the tourism business.

"We are all nervous. We don't want Jaipur's economy to go down," said Manoj Sharma, a New Delhi travel agent.

Still, he said, it will be months before temperatures in Rajasthan dip below 100 degrees and the high season for tourists begins. By then, he hopes, fears will have faded.

[venkata4--2008]

"all of you people ready to point fingers at islam talking about denouncing the acts why dosent america or india or uk or any non muslim country denounce isreals occupation of palistine why because they are white or jewish then you expect muslims to care what you think of islam open your eyes what goes around comes around and iraq dident have terrorist until bush attacked them and Pakistan gets money from America is because they have captured over 600 militants so the goverment have a reason to spend your tax money peace to all

Posted by seethelight2 at 09:57 PM : May 13, 2008"

Without knowing facts please do not post. India recognized Israel only after 1993. 45 years after Israel was created. India open handedly invites PLO and Palastina state. There are 150 million muslims/islamists in India.

Terrorists do not reasons to blast innocent people. Pakistan is given 10 billions so far to fight Alqueda and Taliban and till date it has highest number of terrorist training places than any country.

[ajmarine111]

iraq dident have terrorist until bush attacked them

Posted by seethelight2 at 09:57 PM : May 13, 2008


I think Saddam would fit into this category.

[sistatee-2009]

Sixty less Indian slaves for the sweatshops.

[texasjules19]

Yet another place in the world where muslims think its OK to just blow anyone to bits that doesn''t think or feel the way they do. Islam is a vicious, denegrating, sexist, destructive religion that values nothing but vicious bloodthirsty men who seek power and have a lust for the blood of anyone in their way - even the children who happen to be around.

[yongamerica]

seethelight2 what the f--ck does Palestine have to do with India? Your argument is clearly religious in nature and shows your Islamic tendancy to blame the Jews on problems your own kind create.

GROW UP AND TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW YOUR SAME BELIEFS IN HOW TO TREAT ANOTHER HUMAN.

[seethelight2]

all of you people ready to point fingers at islam talking about denouncing the acts why dosent america or india or uk or any non muslim country denounce isreals occupation of palistine why because they are white or jewish then you expect muslims to care what you think of islam open your eyes what goes around comes around and iraq dident have terrorist until bush attacked them and Pakistan gets money from America is because they have captured over 600 militants so the goverment have a reason to spend your tax money peace to all

[tomflint69]

Islam is the only modern religion to practice human sacrifice.
------------------------------------
Posted by downsteamjim at 08:17 PM : May 13, 2008


So, Is Mr President (Bush) a Muslim too?

Pardon my *** if I am wrong!

Seeking Pardon,
TomFlint

[downsteamjim]

Islam is the only modern religion to practice human sacrifice.

[tomflint69]

Additionally, nobody wants India''''s economy to go down. I don''''t think anybody wants America''''s economy to go down either.
--------------------------

Posted by hypnotoad72 at 07:25 PM : May 13, 2008


Indian economy is not making wonders! 65% Indians live below poverty line but the media and the news channel cameras don''t show us their villages and remote areas where children eat cockroaches and grass hopers. The niumber of poor farmers who suiside each year because of poverty and stress has broken all records. We, the U.S is helping India in every possible way to somehow counter effect the pressure of the Chinese economy in Asia. But for how long can you show path to a blind? to a lame nation? of course not for too long. Use some good website that offers you to use currency calculator. Convert 1 U.S dollar into Indian Rupee to see ( 1 U.S Dollar = 42 Indian Ruppes ) on Yahoo finance.

[tomflint69]

Additionally, nobody wants India''''s economy to go down. I don''''t think anybody wants America''''s economy to go down either.
--------------------------

Posted by hypnotoad72 at 07:25 PM : May 13, 2008


Indian economy is not making wonders! 65% Indians live below poverty line but the media and the news channel cameras don''t show us their villages and remote areas where children eat cockroaches and grass hopers. The niumber of poor farmers who suiside each year because of poverty and stress has broken all records. We, the U.S is helping India in every possible way to somehow counter effect the pressure of the Chinese economy in Asia. But for how long can you show path to a blind? to a lame nation? of course not for too long. Use some good website that offers you to use currency calculator. Convert 1 U.S dollar into Indian Rupee to see ( 1 U.S Dollar = 42 Indian Ruppes ) on Yahoo finance.

[tomflint69]

Do you think that China has done that since it is not also our favorite? In order to balance its own quake, it carried out bombings in India?

[hypnotoad72]

Additionally, nobody wants India''s economy to go down. I don''t think anybody wants America''s economy to go down either.

[hypnotoad72]

Do the terrorists know the US offshores jobs over there? Maybe the terrorists are "bombing by association" or something equally dumb. (indeed, with all that data to steal, bombing wouldn''t be a very bright thing to do either...)

Still, having once faced a death threat from a devout Islamic, I am not inclined to believe it is a religion of peace. Christianity isn''t perfect, but Christ didn''t go around saying "Kill unbelievers" for crying out loud!!

And, no, it''s not Bush''s fault. I''m sorry people think it is.

[compved]

The islamists will always strike, i guess they are always in state of destruction, waiting to explode.
I am not sure why they do this, what has people lives got to do with this ?
India has faced the scourge of islam for the past 1000 yrs and still even now people dont have the courage to fight it out.
I believed education will help ease the problem, but alas no, even the educated muslims support these dastardly acts against humanity in the name of islam.
What must be done ?, how should we protect ourseleves ?

[nick32708]

Pakistan is the root cause of terror across the world. This is because home to some of the most intelligent as well as extremist muslims. Unless there is stability in Pakistan, no country in the world would be safe. Just week new political turmoil in Pakistan, so inorder to keep indians occupied, Pakistan always used such tricks through radical islamists, when they themselves are in trouble. Innocent people pay the price. True india has more muslims than pakistan, a majority of them are peace loving.

[winnerindia]

Another wonderfully tragic expression of Islamic brotherly love. This corruption and human injustice furthers the international world''''''''s suspicion of Islamic nations. And yet not a single one is denouncing this type of action. Not one group of Muslims have stood up and tried to take back their religon from the terrorists and extremists. And that lack of action says a lot.
---------------------------------
Pos
ted by yongamerica at 03:44 PM : May 13, 2008


haa haaa... by the way, why should they (Muslims feel guilty and say they denounce?) when still it has not proved that the Muslims carried out these blasts?
People like you jump to make conclusions in panic, without any clue or proof. Sit silent where you are.
There are 160000000 Muslims in India and crazy fools like you can only put oil to the fire, so that the Hindu-Muslim riots begin. Please don''''t meddle in our country! Pardon us! Indians don;t need any advice from the CBS website visitors :)

[winnerindia]

Another wonderfully tragic expression of Islamic brotherly love. This corruption and human injustice furthers the international world''''s suspicion of Islamic nations. And yet not a single one is denouncing this type of action. Not one group of Muslims have stood up and tried to take back their religon from the terrorists and extremists. And that lack of action says a lot.
---------------------------------
Posted by yongamerica at 03:44 PM : May 13, 2008


haa haaa... by the way, why should they when still it isn''t proved that the Muslims carried out the blasts?
People like you jump to make conclusions in panic, without any clue or proof. Sit silent where you are.
There are 160000000 Muslims in India and crazy fools like you can only put oil to the fire, so that the Hindu-Muslim riots begin. Please don''t meddle in our country! Pardon us!

[compved]

yonga,
i agree, it is only because of evolution that we are eating hamburgers, otherwise, lions would have been hunting us (yonga) tonite ;), for a tasty piece of his thigh meat !!

[forthepeopl1]

DISGUSTING ISN%u2019T IT ??????????

ARABIC/ISLAMIC STATES VOTING RECORDS IN THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AND UNITED NATIONS RECORDS, AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PERHAPS IT IS TIME TO GET OUT OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AND GIVE THE TAX SAVINGS BACK TO THE AMERICAN WORKERS WHO ARE HAVING TO SKIMP AND SACRIFICE TO PAY TAXES AND BUY GASOLINE AND THE HIGHEST PRICES OF FOOD THIS COUNTRY HAS SEEN IN CENTERY.

KUWAIT %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 67 % OF THE TIME
QATAR - VOTES AGAINST 67 % OF THE TIME
MOROCCO %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 70 % OF THE TIME
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES %u2013 70 % OF THE TIME
JORDAN - VOTE AGAINST 71 % OF THE TIME
TUNISIA %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 71 % OF THE TIME
SAUDI ARABIA %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 73 % OF THE TIME
YEMEN %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 74 % OF THE TIME
ALGERIA - VOTES AGAINST 74 % OF THE TIME
OMAN %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 74 % OF THE TIME
SUDAN - VOTES AGAINST 75 % OF THE TIME
PAKISTAN %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 75 % OF THE TIME
LIBYA - VOTES AGAINST 76 % OF THE TIME
EGYPT - VOTES AGAINST 79 % OF THE TIME
LEBANON %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 80 % OF THE TIME
INDIA %u2013 VOTES AGAINST 81 % OF THE TIME
SYRIA - VOTES AGAINST 84 % OF THE TIME
MAURITANIA - VOTES AGAINST 87 % OF THE TIME

SO WHY DOES OUR CONGRESS GIVE THESE COUNTRYS OUR TAX DOLLARS IN THE AMOUNT OF
OVER 50 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, IN FOREIGN AID,

[e-mail]
David a belanger,veteran u.s. army

[yongamerica]

Another wonderfully tragic expression of Islamic brotherly love. This corruption and human injustice furthers the international world''s suspicion of Islamic nations. And yet not a single one is denouncing this type of action. Not one group of Muslims have stood up and tried to take back their religon from the terrorists and extremists. And that lack of action says a lot.