On Friday multiple blasts took place in Malegaon, the city of powerloom in the Indian State of Maharashtra, claiming 38 lives and left 189 injured. The blasts occurred around 1.55pm - within minutes of each other - after Friday namaz as the crowd made it's way out of a mosque and nearby cemetery. Many of the processionists had gathered on the occasion of Shab-e-barrat, a fortnight ahead of the holy month of Ramzan. Explosive devices were rigged to two bicycles and kept in bouquet. A stampede broke out immediately after the blasts as devotees, including children, fled in panic with many of them trampling over the dead and injured. Victims were taken to nearby hospitals.
Malegoan is a sensitive place with a history of communal violence, and as per precautionary measures authorities immediately imposed curfew in the city. Extra security personnel were called upon. But fortunately no untoward incident took place. This morning on Saturday, authorities lifted the curfew. Leaders and prominent personalities have started to reach blasts site.
The police are probing in this case. Efforts are on to trace where the bicycles, on which the bombs were placed, were purchased from. Cycle was used because most of the people flocking to the mosques and Kabristan during Friday prayers ride cycles in this area.
However, terrorists who are behind this incident were not able to succeed in their aim of sparkling communal tension. The operation was carried out with meticulous planning by Islamic jihadi groups. The objective was to drive a wedge between different communities. Earlier in Mumbai and Varansi blasts, the motive was the same. But administration managed to avoid untoward incidents.
People in Malegaon have maintain peace, patience and harmony. They have described it as an act of cowardice. The way people from all sections of society came together helping each other, has further strengthen nation's resolve to confront terrorism.
India is fighting terrorism for more than two decades. Now, it has become a worldwide phenomena after 9/11.