Dozens Killed, Wounded In India Blasts

Official Says 29 Dead, 88 Wounded In Series Of Explosions In Western India

(CBS/AP)  A top official says 29 people have been killed and at least 88 wounded in a series of explosions in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.

Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat state where Ahmedabad is located, says at least 16 blasts went off in several neighborhoods tonight.

Modi called the blasts "a crime against humanity."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either set of bombings, and it was not clear if they were connected.

Most of the explosions went off in the crowded areas of the older part of the congested city.

Prithviraj Chavan, a junior minister in the prime minister's office, called the explosions "deplorable" and said they were set off by people "bent upon creating a communal divide in the country" - language officials usually use when blaming Islamic militants believed to be behind bombings that have repeatedly hit India's cities in recent years.

"Anti-national elements have been trying to create panic among the people of our country. Today's blasts in Ahmadabad seem to be part of the same strategy," federal Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters in New Delhi.

Patil provided no details about the explosions.

The latest attacks came a day after seven synchronized small bombs shook Bangalore, India's high-tech hub, killing two people and wounding at least five others.

On Saturday, police found and defused an eighth bomb near a popular shopping mall in Bangalore, said Srikumar, the director general of police in Karnataka state, where the city is located. Like many Indians, he uses only a single name.

As in past bombings in India, suspicion for both sets of explosions quickly fell on Muslim militants blamed for attacks such as the July 2006 bombings that ripped through Mumbai's commuter rail network, killing nearly 200 people.

Those fears were amplified by the history of Ahmadabad, a crowded and historic city that in 2002 was the scene of one of worst incidents of rioting between India's Hindu majority and its Muslim minority.

The violence killed about 1,000 people, most of them Muslims. It was triggered by a fire that killed 60 passengers on a train packed with Hindu pilgrims. Hindu extremists blamed the deaths on Muslims and rampaged through Muslim neighborhoods, although the cause of the blaze remains unclear.

[hypnotoad72]

Deplorable indeed. I hope they catch the vermin who set off the bombs.

[liberty_1776]

India has been dealing with Muslim terrorism for a long time. Muslim terrorists kill civilians in every country around the world. It is time for the international community to join together and eradicate these Muslim extremists, because Muslim terrorists are trying to murder you and your family (no matter where you live) whether you want to fight back or not.

[dnamj]

A sad event, in a long struggle against fear and cruelty. Will we ever prevail?

[platteman]

We will let pope obama talk to them and they will see the light and stop their bombing and killing of inocent people. He has the way to make all people understand that killing other people is not the right road to travel.

SistaTee: that is so ridiculous. I was sent to work in the fields when i was 8 years old, i did it to buy my school expenses, it taught me discipline, and self-determination. Have you ever been to India? Having a job is a plus for these kids; in the least it is better than having your parents slave you out to the streets to sell yourself, or to begging, which is what happens alot. We cannot continue to compare their children to our children: yes children have rights, but if working for Nike, per se, means you can eat and your family can eat, what is wrong with that? Oh, and by the way, where I worked, that was in the USA!

SistaTee: that is so ridiculous. I was sent to work in the fields when i was 8 years old, i did it to buy my school expenses, it taught me discipline, and self-determination. Have you ever been to India? Having a job is a plus for these kids; in the least it is better than having your parents slave you out to the streets to sell yourself, or to begging, which is what happens alot. We cannot continue to compare their children to our children: yes children have rights, but if working for Nike, per se, means you can eat and your family can eat, what is wrong with that? Oh, and by the way, where I worked, that was in the USA!

[oviedoboy]

Is this the same country we keep outsourcing American
jobs?

[republic1776]

Sir Obama,
The "poor blackboy" worth millions.
He''ll look out for this little folk....

[republic1776]

dartngriss,
The computer you use, came out of war technology.

[republic1776]

This is greed.
Democrats and Repulican have ONE PARTY GREED!
We''ll flip it around to make you hate each other.
Our Fore fahers would vomit

[hypnotoad72]

Is this the same country we keep outsourcing American
jobs?

Posted by oviedoboy
---------------

Yes. IT-related jobs at any rate...

It does make the terrorists'' jobs that much easier, never mind piracy and data theft going on in that country due to lack of proper regulations, forged credentials, and so on - ever ask why looking up your credit report is free? Guess where your data is stored... (While piracy is inevitable, last I checked, the US piracy rate is 20%, while India''s is at 74% and China''s at around 90% -- source Cnet Asia, but it''s possible piracy rates have gone down since then.)

[beehive21-2009]

Poor things.Someday we shall experience peace.The Muslims and Hindus are going to kill each other,stand back an let the carnage ,begin.

[republic1776]

When you fall down the steps, an Indian will read your x-ray..
Don''t we have people here in America?
Well, you can''t pay $2.00 (you can) and bill the client $85.00
Welcome to the new America
Think Obama is a poor black boy?

[kretos_d]

Al Ciada

[sistatee-2009]

Sixteen bombs went off in the same city, on the same day, and the government isn''t sure they''re connected? Has the Bush administration move to India?

[trojanny]

29 DEAD, 88 wounded, and remember, wounded may mean you''re in hellish pain, and/or paralyzed, lost a hand, arm , leg, or all of these.

The world must make terrorism an absolute no, with no nation offering refuge to any terrorists.

Just like the victims of Sept. 11th, these are/were simply innocent men, women, & children, (mothers, fathers.....sons & daughters......Why ?

[ndjam]

The world is sick and tired of this. This merciless slaughter of innocent people must stop.

[docdeal]

This story has nothing to do with outsourcing. Its not about the major political parties in US. Its not about president Bush or senators Clinton, McCain or Obama. Its not about your own latent prejudices and hatred. Its about the loss of human life on a tragic scale. Get over yourselves and become the best human being you are well-capable of maturing into. If your grouchy then take a nap or find a pacifier. You''d think those posting on the CBS News forum would be a bit less vehement in their thinking than the terrorists.