indianexpress.com :: Terror targets Ramzan pilgrims at revered Sufi shrine in Ajmer Sharif

Terror targets Ramzan pilgrims at revered Sufi shrine in Ajmer Sharif

PALAK NANDI

Posted online: Friday, October 12, 2007 at 0000 hrs IST

AJMER SHARIF, OCTOBER 11
Terror struck the highly revered Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti here when a bomb went off inside the complex this evening killing two persons and injuring at least 28 as thousands were breaking their day-long Ramzan fast just two days before Eid, a day before Friday prayers.

The site of the blast — that occurred at 6.20 pm — was the Aahetai-e-Noor, right opposite the dargah’s main shrine and the target was visitors and pilgrims from across the nation. There was no damage to the shrine.

Of the 14 critically injured, only three are local residents while the rest are from states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The dead were identified as Mohammad Shoaib from Mumbai and Salim from Hyderabad.

“For years, my husband had been thinking of coming to the dargah to offer Ramzan prayers but it was only this year that we could make it. And now he is dead,” said Tajunisa Mohammad, wife of Shoaib. With tears in her eyes and all alone, she refuses to leave the bedside of her eight-year-old nephew Arshad, who had come with them to Ajmer. Arshad, too, is injured and Tajunisa is now waiting for his father to come from Mumbai.

Eyewitnesses said that just when the pilgrims had broken their fast and had begun eating, a deafening sound was followed by a cloud of dust. “I did not even realise what had happened. All I know is the sound of the blast and suddenly acute pain on the right side of my face and hand. Before I could get over the shock, I realised I was bleeding profoundly,” said 22-year-old Aasif Majid, from Anand in Gujarat. An engineering student in Bhuj, Aasif was attending the iftar with two of his friends who are also injured and admitted to the local Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital.

The bomb was placed in a container near a tree at the Aahetai-e-Noor and police sources said it was a low-intensity blast. “No foreign substance seems to have been used for this blast but one can only confirm this after forensic reports,” said a senior police official. Director General of Police A S Gill, who visited the spot late tonight, denied there was any lack in security. “The investigation is on and it is too early to claim anything,” he said.

Sources said a damaged mobile handset was recovered from the spot and authorities suspect this could have been used to set off the blast. It has been sent for forensic examination. “These are still early clues and there is every chance that the handset might belong to a victim,” said a senior police officer on the spot.

However, Gulabchand Kataria, State Home Minister who also visited the spot, said the state government had prior information about the possibility of such a blast but it was pre-occupied with the Gujjar agitation in the state. “The IB had informed the state government but the state government was busy with the Gujjar agitation,” Kataria said.

Said Sameer Safi, a resident of Delhi, badly injured in the blast, “I was so shocked and my head was spinning but I was more worried about my nephew who was with me. How could something like this happen at such a holy shrine?” While Sameer was injured in the head, his nephew had a narrow and lucky escape.

“We have no clue how he survived but we are very lucky as both of them were sitting just near the tree where the blast occurred,” said Sameer’s brother-in-law, Kamruddin.

Mohammad Hafis Shah, 50-year-old ice-cream vendor from Ajmer, has been attending iftar at the shrine for years now. “It always felt so good when the roza ended at the dargah but today was so different. Everyone was so shocked, women screaming and children crying. The holy month has suddenly turned sorrowful for all of us,” says Shah, who was also injured. The blast side was cordoned off while the dargah was kept open for the public and the prayers were held as scheduled.

Recent terror strikes at places of worship

Sankat Mochan Temple

Varanasi March 7, 2006

Twin blasts in city left 28 dead, injured over 100. Blasts took place on Tuesday, when the temple is usually packed with devotees.

Noorani Masjid

Malegaon Sept 8, 2006

Blasts on Friday coincided with the Shab-e-Barat. First bomb went off outside Masjid. Blasts at Mushaira Chowk and graveyard also. The toll was 38 killed, over 200 injured.

Jama Masjid

Delhi April 14, 2006

Low intensity blasts at India's most famous mosque left 14 injured. First blast took place as the faithful prepared for Friday prayers.

Mecca Masjid

Hyderabad May 18, 2007

14 persons killed, more than 50 injured in blasts and subsequent police firing in adjoining areas. Blasts took place during Friday prayers.

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Terror targets Ramzan pilgrims at revered Sufi shrine in Ajmer Sharif PALAK NANDI Posted online: Friday, October 12, 2007 at 0000 hrs IST AJMER SHARIF, OCTOBER 11 Terror struck the highly revered Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti here when a bomb went off inside the complex this evening killing two persons and injuring at least 28 as thousands were breaking their day-long Ramzan fast just two days before Eid, a day before Friday prayers. The site of the blast — that occurred at 6.20 pm — was the Aahetai-e-Noor, right opposite the dargah’s main shrine and the target was visitors and pilgrims from across the nation. There was no damage to the shrine. Of the 14 critically injured, only three are local residents while the rest are from states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The dead were identified as Mohammad Shoaib from Mumbai and Salim from Hyderabad. “For years, my husband had been thinking of coming to the dargah to offer Ramzan prayers but it was only this year that we could make it. And now he is dead,” said Tajunisa Mohammad, wife of Shoaib. With tears in her eyes and all alone, she refuses to leave the bedside of her eight-year-old nephew Arshad, who had come with them to Ajmer. Arshad, too, is injured and Tajunisa is now waiting for his father to come from Mumbai. Eyewitnesses said that just when the pilgrims had broken their fast and had begun eating, a deafening sound was followed by a cloud of dust. “I did not even realise what had happened. All I know is the sound of the blast and suddenly acute pain on the right side of my face and hand. Before I could get over the shock, I realised I was bleeding profoundly,” said 22-year-old Aasif Majid, from Anand in Gujarat. An engineering student in Bhuj, Aasif was attending the iftar with two of his friends who are also injured and admitted to the local Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. The bomb was placed in a container near a tree at the Aahetai-e-Noor and police sources said it was a low-intensity blast. “No foreign substance seems to have been used for this blast but one can only confirm this after forensic reports,” said a senior police official. Director General of Police A S Gill, who visited the spot late tonight, denied there was any lack in security. “The investigation is on and it is too early to claim anything,” he said. Sources said a damaged mobile handset was recovered from the spot and authorities suspect this could have been used to set off the blast. It has been sent for forensic examination. “These are still early clues and there is every chance that the handset might belong to a victim,” said a senior police officer on the spot. However, Gulabchand Kataria, State Home Minister who also visited the spot, said the state government had prior information about the possibility of such a blast but it was pre-occupied with the Gujjar agitation in the state. “The IB had informed the state government but the state government was busy with the Gujjar agitation,” Kataria said. Said Sameer Safi, a resident of Delhi, badly injured in the blast, “I was so shocked and my head was spinning but I was more worried about my nephew who was with me. How could something like this happen at such a holy shrine?” While Sameer was injured in the head, his nephew had a narrow and lucky escape. “We have no clue how he survived but we are very lucky as both of them were sitting just near the tree where the blast occurred,” said Sameer’s brother-in-law, Kamruddin. Mohammad Hafis Shah, 50-year-old ice-cream vendor from Ajmer, has been attending iftar at the shrine for years now. “It always felt so good when the roza ended at the dargah but today was so different. Everyone was so shocked, women screaming and children crying. The holy month has suddenly turned sorrowful for all of us,” says Shah, who was also injured. The blast side was cordoned off while the dargah was kept open for the public and the prayers were held as scheduled. Recent terror strikes at places of worship Sankat Mochan Temple Varanasi March 7, 2006 Twin blasts in city left 28 dead, injured over 100. Blasts took place on Tuesday, when the temple is usually packed with devotees. Noorani Masjid Malegaon Sept 8, 2006 Blasts on Friday coincided with the Shab-e-Barat. First bomb went off outside Masjid. Blasts at Mushaira Chowk and graveyard also. The toll was 38 killed, over 200 injured. Jama Masjid Delhi April 14, 2006 Low intensity blasts at India's most famous mosque left 14 injured. First blast took place as the faithful prepared for Friday prayers. Mecca Masjid Hyderabad May 18, 2007 14 persons killed, more than 50 injured in blasts and subsequent police firing in adjoining areas. Blasts took place during Friday prayers.