Jama Masjid blast

14 April 2006

Two Blast rocked delhi when the blast took place in two explosions that took place in quick succession inside the historic Jama Masjid in Old Delhi when the devout were offering prayers on Friday evening.

This was the first blast which took inside a historic monument. On account of Babasaheb Ambedkar's birth anniversary, a large number of people were present in the complex at the time of the explosion.

Fifteen minutes later, another blast rocked the place, Since it was prayer time, not many people were present at the spot where the twin blasts took place, A large number of worshippers who have gathered were agitated about the blasts and are refused to go away.

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of Jama Masjid, appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony and to defeat the designs of those who want to disrupt the peaceful co-existence between Hindus and Muslims. "About eight hundred devotees were praying in the masjid when the first blast took place. That was around 5.25 in the evening. He ordered the immediate closure of all the gates of the Jama Masjid so that the police could look out for any other bomb that be hidden somewhere else. This was the first time that Jama Masjid was targetted by the militants.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced that Rs 20,000 be given as compensation to those injured in the blasts.Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Lt Governor B L Joshi and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit visited the injured at the hospital. Undeterred by the explosions, devout went back to the mosque about one-and-half hours later to offer prayer.The Delhi police, which cordoned off the area and diverted traffic to other routes, has declared a red alert in the capital.

Meanwhile, an alert was sounded at many places, including Mumbai. Security in places of worship in Mumbai was enhanced and a high alert sounded following the explosions.