Talwar
October 30, 2005, 2:40pm
28
Re: 4 bomb blasts in Delhi
Kashmir militants claim responsibility for Delhi Blasts
An obscure Kashmiri militant group claimed responsibility on Sunday for bomb blasts in India’s capital which killed at least 59 people, but analysts said it was probably a front for a larger Pakistan-based group.
New Delhi has so far refused to speculate on who was behind Saturday’s trio of blasts, but security experts see the hand of Lashkar-e-Taiba (Force of the Pure) behind the attacks, in an attempt to derail the peace process between India and Pakistan.
The explosions took place within half an hour in markets packed with shoppers just days before major Hindu and Muslim festivals. Many of the victims were women and children.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed terrorists, but said it was too early to say who was behind the attacks.
On Sunday, the Islami Inqilabi Mahaz (Islamic Revolutionary Group), telephoned local newspapers in Indian Kashmir to claim responsibility for the blasts and warn of more to come.
Delhi Police said they were verifying the claim.
“This is a very old organization, it was formed in 1996 and has not been very active recently. They are linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba,” Joint Commissioner of Police Karnal Singh told a news conference.
I believe that this bombing was ordered from Pakistan by jihadi leaders. The jihadis needed to show their base and India that they can strike despite their losses due to the earthquake.