Welcome Back Pakistan: Blast in Varanasi at ghat near temple

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 09 Dec 2010 05:02

Maintain communal harmony at all costs

A sentence can have different meanings depending on the who speaks that line and the target audience.

If a netaji in power uses it, it will mean exactly what Rudradev fears. Of the politicians specially our Congress party and the 'secular' variety butting into police investigations, and stopping the police from taking investigations further when someone of a 'minority' community is amongst the suspects.
What is important to remember in such cases is that in several instances such 'secular' netajis have contacts with certain unsavoury groups which help them get their secular votes, and there is an interplay of these factors coming in the way of a police investigation.

Perhaps this is why an independent central organization such as the NIA was set up in the first place. I have lived long enough and been associated with government organizations in India to understand the difference in the working styles and ethics of a state and a central organization.

The "maintain communal harmony at all costs" that I was referring to was in reference to an attempt being made by certain groups of the majority community, who's ill timed and immature utterings tend to serve no purpose other than to vitate the atmosphere, and further increase complexities in an already tense situation.

Make no mistake, something like this was done to inflame communal passions and to try and cause riots. I for one am really glad that it appears that the mango people are seeing this incident for what it is - Pakistan upto its terrorist activities. But all the same, I am pretty sure that there would be a lot of Indians who would have been afraid and insecure because of this.

The new thing that I can see happening these days in India is that the police are actually identifying possible suspects and we have Names (and religious affinity) and pictures on TV. Compare this to a decade or so earlier, when DD news would inform us that an 'incident had occurred between two groups of people in some town and that a curfew had been imposed'

I for one am glad to see that India is a much more mature nation, and much more self-confident.

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 09 Dec 2010 05:03

The blame must go equally to the NDA and the UPA of course, since both had been in power for considerable lengths of time since the tenure of IK Gujral.

It takes a lot of eforts and time to build such assets. After Gujral's act we lost credibility. Who will work with us knowing fully well that a wkk PM in India can lead to very painful death at the hands of eye ass eye.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 09 Dec 2010 05:15

Rudradev ji,
that RAW bit about the disputed structure at Ayodhya feels more like an excuse to people who independently do not care to follow the Baloch situation and who in turn want an excuse not to act.

The disputed structure stuff is even more powerful than continued Balochi perception of abuses on their women [the plight of a female teacher allegedly kept naked and forced into prostitution in jail under PA for example - and almost uncannily similar to documented narratives of exactly similar treatment meted out to Bangladeshi women in special entertainment camps built by the Pakis exactly for that purpose]??!!!

I follow the dynamics of opinion within the Balochis who can talk outside of Pak, and I have especially followed several debates on the so-called ghazwa-e-hind so fondly talked of by porkis. I cannot but doubt RAW opinion in this case, if it really was RAW opinion at all - or a filtered version coloured by the secular glasses or secular alcoholic soporific being drunk at the time by the journo or media personality reporting that.

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 09 Dec 2010 05:41

A little of testiclarone injection into the leadership at the NSG meetings is wirth exploring

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Dec 2010 05:47

It could be PC maneuvering to find his space in case MMS steps down? See how quickly he put the onus on UP Mayawati govt even before there was any probe.

He came, he saw and he blamed!

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 09 Dec 2010 06:10

Lalmohan wrote:only sell routers that work secured - i am sure its a small software patch?

Lalmullah - BSNL sells wireless routers where the password is "password" by default. Typically the NRI son on his visit from Yamerika gives his parents a laptop and they call BSNL for router. BSNL man comes and sets up router so parents can get Gmail, Facebook, Virus, Trojan etc

OT but the most shocking news is on the front page of BR:
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=13933

Microsoft trains Indian Army to bag corporate jobs

I doubt if these people will be trained on Linux or other secure operating systems.

We are an IT sooperpower remember?

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 09 Dec 2010 06:34

Lalmohan wrote:only sell routers that work secured - i am sure its a small software patch?

Using Chinese origin equipment is a bad idea ... there have been cases of hardware trojans in telecom equipment. Actually, telecom equipment should be indigenously manufactured.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 09 Dec 2010 06:35

The BSNL routers in India are cheap cheena made ones. Most people though go in for the Linksys or D-link ones available in the market.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 09 Dec 2010 06:44

Deniable option

In the wake of all the uncertainty over how Pakistan would respond, there was also talk about the “deniable option”. One which would involve covert operatives carrying out a sensational strike in Pakistan or in PoK. It’s learnt that RAW and the Army were specifically asked this question. RAW’s response to the NSA stunned all except, perhaps, Narayanan himself who is among the doyens of Indian intelligence. India’s premier external intelligence agency admitted that it had no assets in Pakistan to carry out such an action. It was explained that India lost all the meagre local support it had in pockets of Pakistan after the Babri Masjid attack and what little was left, was shut down by a prime ministerial diktat during I K Gujral’s tenure.

I don't believe that.
This sounds more like blaming the NDA and the other governments for all the ills, while the poor congress wants to act but has its hands tied. Yeah alright!

India does have intel assets in Pakistan, and they are extensive to say the least. The US after 9/11 has been getting intel inputs for India on the Pakistanis and their pet terrorists.
Its just that no PM has been dirty enough to get the assets to do dirty work.

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 09 Dec 2010 07:53

What can and should GOI be doing? It is understandable that every situation cannot be prevented. However, what GOI (of all hues and shades) is doing under the spell of "communal harmony has to be maintained at all costs", is chiding general public to accept terrorism as a tax, that the citizen has to accept. In particular it is telling the majority community: it is the fault of majority community and they deserve to die because being a member of majority community is a sin in of itself deserving death. Be that as it may.

But the most important question is not why it failed to prevent the terrorist acts, but why it still has not punished terrorists who are convicted, for starters?
Why is piglet kasab being fed chicken biryani even after conviction?
Why is Afzal Guru enjoying the luxuries in prison?

The pakistaniyat is root cause of this tax that the Indian citizen is paying. As long as pakistaniyat stays, India will have existential threat. It is to be understood that sadly pakistaniyat, is not confined to within the current boundaries of pakistan, but also within India.

But first, visible demonstration that pakistaniyat has zero tolerance within India is the least that should be done.
Else take the bull by the horns and defeat pakistaniyat in its heartland, because GOI is hesitating to act on pakistaniyat within Indian borders. If cannot do any of the above, the menu list of next meal for kasab can be planned.

negi · Post by **negi** » 09 Dec 2010 09:15

Security wise Linksys or Netgear are not any different they come with default 'Admin' passwords and folks who are careless enough to not even secure their WiFi profile are highly likely to not even change the former.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 09 Dec 2010 09:17

Gagan wrote:Most people though go in for the Linksys or D-link ones available in the market.

Even they require some configurations to be done in order to make them more secured. So far I have only seen one private individual who have taken the pains to study the manual and configure the Wi-Fi router in such a way that it requires a password to enable access. The others just buy a LinkSys or D-Link router goes for the default un-secured communication. They are happy if their laptop picks up the signal and can connect. They are not a bit bothered about the fact their friendly neighbours can also now ride piggy-back on their network

PS: I am not saying that only my friend did the password protection. All I meant was that the awareness of the threats is not realised by many.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Dec 2010 09:50

Let us see what the media is saying

HT Editorial

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Anti-terr ... 36076.aspx

The visibility of Indian counter-terrorism must be heightened. Especially on the ground Much of the point of terrorism — and counter-terrorism — is to make one’s presence felt. The low intensity explosion that took place in Varanasi on Tuesday evening claiming the life of a two-year-old girl and injuring some 25 people was a reminder not only of the continued existence of deranged extremist groups but also of the unresolvable nature of their bile-filled grouses. The banned outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), purportedly behind the serial blasts in Jaipur in May 2008, in Ahmedabad in July 2008 and in Delhi in September 2008, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack on crowds congregated for the evening ceremony.

It has cited in an e-mail sent to the media that the Varanasi blast was in retaliation to what it perceived as the ‘biased’ Babri Masjid verdict earlier this year. Sounding like a demented editorial, the e-mail has gone on to castigate the Indian judiciary and, just to gather as many ‘reasons’ as possible, also cites the Special Investigation Team (SIT) giving a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in his role during the Gujarat riots in 2002, as well as the “recent heckling against Kashmiri activisits” in Kolkata and New Delhi. Clearly, the IM and its ilk choose to unleash their violence on the softest of targets first and then shore up ‘reasons’ for their action.

But while terrorism has ‘terrified’ again — the first attack since the blast at the German Bakery in Pune in February this year — counter-terrorism has kept a low profile. No one can prevent each and every act of terrorist violence, but one of the key elements of countering terrorism is to be seen being active on this front.

While the BJP and opposition parties are quick off the block to blame Tuesday’s heinous ‘breach’ on the central government being ‘soft’, the relative invisibility of counter-terrorism is less because of political shuffling and much more because of an apathy at the ground level.

With December 6 being the day of ‘alertness’ having passed peacefully, evidence points to security being lax ‘as usual’ the day after. It is during the time in between such tragedies that a system and culture of security should be inculcated. It doesn’t take a Varanasi attack to tell us that basic security norms such as actual alertness at security posts and barriers are woefully absent. This is not to say that there can be a fool-proof method to stop every bomb. But there has to be a basic procedure and a visibly functioning one at that.

As for the sectarian politics that has in the past fuelled such attacks and counter-attacks, it is heartening to see that the IM is operating from a tight corner. Muslim leaders behaved maturely after the Babri Masjid verdict. ‘Hindu’ leaders have shown similar sobriety after Varanasi (the Togadias simply sound like jokers these days). So it becomes more essential that anomalies such as the IM be snuffed out by every means possible.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Dec 2010 09:52

Editorial in Hindi newspaper (Hindustan)

Nishaane par Banaras

http://epaper.hindustandainik.com/PUBLI ... tml?Mode=1

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Dec 2010 09:57

Caught napping again

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Caught-na ... 36087.aspx

But the government alone can’t stop it. Groups and individuals can make significant contributions to improve the security environment. There is also a need for sophisticated security procedures that go all the way from airport screening to border checks. We have to learn from the anti-terrorist strategies of the West. The United States Patriot Act, 2001, allows security agencies to gather information about communication networks and properties of terror suspects. Besides, US immigration officials have the right to detain or deport illegal immigrants. Britain’s Prevention of Terrorism Act, 1984, allows securitymen to detain terror suspects and imprison them for one-and-a-half months without framing any charges against them.

In India, many attempts were made to ensure the implementation of anti-terror laws. But due to opposition from various quarters, these Acts were allowed to lapse. The Terrorism And Disruptive Activities Act, 1987, (Tada) was not extended beyond 1995. Similarly, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota), 2002, did not go beyond 2004. On the other hand, Maharashtra and Gujarat have made attempts to enact separate Acts. But we still don’t have a federal agency that can tackle the problem from an all-India point of view.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Dec 2010 10:12

Indian Express Editorial

Reacting right

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Reacting-right/722323

Varanasi, that ancient, spirituality-sodden city by the Ganga, was suddenly and cruelly attacked during evening prayers. A bomb placed in a milk container ripped through the Sitala Ghat temple, injuring over 30 people and killing a one-year-old girl. The tragedy has reverberated through the nation, which had begun to breathe easy in the 10 months following the Pune bakery attack.But even as we were taking in the news, there was already a political chorus that had swiftly processed the event and assimilated it into its own worldviews, pinning blame according to its own ends. So the BJP decided that the attack stemmed from the government’s “soft-on-terror” policy that emboldened terrorists. “Tentatively, it appears to be a security lapse and lack of proper intelligence,” said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad. Equally quick off the mark, his colleague, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, sought to indict Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, saying he maintained

a “casual approach” to terrorism. Meanwhile, at the state level in UP, the Congress’s Rita Bahuguna Joshi and the Samajwadi Party’s Mulayam Singh Yadav have leapt on the opportunity to trash Chief Minister Mayawati’s administration and its inadequate security response. The home minister has pointed out that the Centre had alerted the UP government to a possible attack near Dashashwamedh Ghat, which the state has fiercely batted back at him, saying there was absolutely no actionable information and that the CM advised the Central government not to wash its hands of internal security by taking cover behind the “state subject” excuse.

So much agitation and anger, and so little sense of proportion. It’s not to minimise the pain of Varanasi to point out that we have been mercifully spared serious terrorism in the last year, whether the result of dumb luck or highly impressive intelligence gathering. Yes, we cannot afford to let security slacken even for a day, as the home minister rightly pointed out. But it’s important to pull back and realise that these actions have a certain symbolic import — hitting out at a place like Varanasi, on the day after the anniversary of the Babri Masjid destruction, is clearly meant to provoke tension and destabilise the region. However, as is the case of late after many attacks, the humane and dignified reaction of citizens has been overshadowed by the theatrics of the political class. They have, unfortunately, displayed a deep irresponsibility by seizing on human tragedy for its small political uses.

*sigh*

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Dec 2010 10:48

A day after terror strike, it's business as usual in Varanasi

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 068582.cms

Someone mentioned this here?

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Dec 2010 11:44

STATEMENT OF U.S. AMBASSADOR TIMOTHY J. ROEMER ON THE ATTACK IN VARANASI

http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/pr120810.html

December 8, 2010

United States Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer today offered his heartfelt condolences to the people of India and to the victims of the deplorable and cowardly attack in Varanasi.
Ambassador Roemer said: “I was very saddened to hear of the tragic attack yesterday in Varanasi, a city well-known for the tolerance of its citizens and acceptance of religious diversity. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims and for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured.
The perpetrators of this senseless act have accomplished nothing. Their message is one of death and destruction, which accomplishes nothing. The United States stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of India in condemning such meaningless violence and brutal attacks on the innocent. We stand ready to provide any appropriate assistance to the Indian government to investigate this heinous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In my travels through India, I have been very fortunate to visit Varanasi. I have felt the warmth of this city from its spiritual leaders and school children, the energy from its business community, and the vibrancy from the students at Banares Hindu University. I have been inspired by attending the aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganga River. The spirit of this great city that has been embedded into the soul of its citizens for the past 3000 years by all faiths will overcome today’s tragic event so that Varanasi continues to be a shining example to the world of peace, tolerance, and religious freedom.”

abhischekcc · Post by **abhischekcc** » 09 Dec 2010 12:44

People are reacting as if this blast could have been stopped - it is not possible.

Look at the facts - the materials were procurred locally, and were prepared without thought for maximizing impact. Which means that the people involved were not trained. Which means that there was no long term planning or training done for this action. In that case then, it is not possible for intelligence agencies to penetrate this conspiracy, because there was no conspiracy to begin with.

This action could have been done with a simple phone to a asleeper cell/agent.

niran · Post by **niran** » 09 Dec 2010 16:23

abhishek_sharma wrote: A day after terror strike, it's business as usual in Varanasi

Someone mentioned this here?

among the comments

Great Bipin (Mumbai)
3 hrs ago (01:15 PM)

It must be stopped doing poja and aarti and offering flowers and leaves from the all the Ghats of the river to maintain cleaning and purity of the river. Becuase it makes mind and river dirty. Bomb blast in Varanasi is the consequnce of dirty mind and dirty river. Making dirty river must be stopped anyhow. Otherwise the terrorist will get advantage to do more blast in India. Actually these dirty minded people are responsible for any untoward incident in India. So these people stop all the ghastly rituals to stop terrorism in India. and clean thier mind instead of making dirty everthings.

saip · Post by **saip** » 09 Dec 2010 21:57

negi wrote:Security wise Linksys or Netgear are not any different they come with default 'Admin' passwords and folks who are careless enough to not even secure their WiFi profile are highly likely to not even change the former.

I dont see any newspaper trying to educate the public about securing the routers. If they do atleast some people will read and protect their routers.

negi · Post by **negi** » 09 Dec 2010 21:58

Sir Rediff apparently did but then it is not as widely read as tabloid ToI.

How to secure your wireless network

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Dec 2010 22:45

Great Bipin's agenda is very clear. Bet he has an unsecured wifi router for openess.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 09 Dec 2010 23:21

Now the standard bureaucratic process of home ministry going via interpol to catch the guys in Sharjah. I think they would have fled by now.

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 09 Dec 2010 23:52

Rudradev wrote:So the shameful answer is, no GOI in the last 12 years has authorized and empowered RAW to rebuild their intelligence networks in Pakistan, laying the groundwork for the "non-state" type activities you describe. The blame must go equally to the NDA and the UPA of course, since both had been in power for considerable lengths of time since the tenure of IK Gujral.

How do we know that networks haven't been built? Its not something that would get released into the public domain.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 09 Dec 2010 23:54

^ According to Indian Express article about the meeting after 26/11.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Dec 2010 00:05

So no more real updates on the incident? If not we need to list up the advantages and disadvantages of the incident like who benefits and loses.

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 10 Dec 2010 01:15

Rudradev wrote: From the Indian Express Article on GOI debating options after 26/11:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/26-11 ... r/716240/0

It’s learnt that RAW and the Army were specifically asked this question. RAW’s response to the NSA stunned all except, perhaps, Narayanan himself who is among the doyens of Indian intelligence. India’s premier external intelligence agency admitted that it had no assets in Pakistan to carry out such an action. It was explained that India lost all the meagre local support it had in pockets of Pakistan after the Babri Masjid attack and what little was left, was shut down by a prime ministerial diktat during I K Gujral’s tenure.

Blaming babri masjid, gujral, gujarat etc etc are all excuses on the part of RAW.

Americans are hated and distrusted more than Indians in Pakistan.But that did not stop the CIA from penetrating the paki elite and soceity.

The Israelis are hated more than anyone (except the Iranians) in the Arab world. But look at how Mossad cultivated assests and penetrated Arab milataries.

Pakistan is the most corrupt country on earth, more corrupt country than many African nations.Look at the rankings of Transparancy International.Adding to that corruption,everyone from the Baluchis to the Sindhi nationalists to Baltistani Shias to Pashtun nationalists hate Pakjabis.If there is anything,Pakistan is a easy target for destablisation.

RAW's excuses if anything are not convincing at all.

But the blame needs to be put on the politicians as well. Without a political directive, RAW would not do anything to break their own inertia.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Dec 2010 01:40

Maha Police on right track. They are seaarcing all places around 300 feet of the router!

Was e-mail sent from Navi Macdonalds ?

Imagine this scene:
Two guys in beards ordering goat burgers and typing away at laptop right after the blasts!

Can someone cartoon this?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Dec 2010 01:42

So whats the progress in UP side?

Ananya · Post by **Ananya** » 10 Dec 2010 03:29

IM sits pretty in Azamgarh, UP govt tells police not to raid hub

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the crackdown on India . Mujahideen modules across Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan, its backbone remains intact given the alleged reluctance of the UP government to let intelligence agencies raid Azamgarh, home to many IM leaders and cadres.

Police of states which busted IM modules and intelligence agencies had approached the UP police on many occasions requesting joint raids in villages like Sanjarpur in Azamgarh, believed to be the hub of IM cadre, according to a central security establishment officer.

Agencies believe raids in Azamgarh would have helped them unearth the network of IM across the country, besides tracking linkages to Pakistan and Gulf countries. “However, indications we got from the UP police were that they were specifically warned by the state government against raids or searches in Muslim-dominated villages of Azamgarh,” said an intelligence official of the centre. Incidentally, the Mayawati government is not the only political dispensation that has frowned on law enforcement agencies vis-à-vis Azamgarh.

From the Samajwadi Party, which had questioned the authenticity of the Batla House encounter that killed two IM terrorists including commander Atif Amin, to a section within Congress, led by party general secretary Digvijay Singh , have spoken out against “harassment” of families of suspected IM cadre in Azamgarh.

While SP leaders have claimed that the Azamgarh youth arrested for links with IM were “innocent” and were “framed”, Singh has visited Sanjarpur to sympathise with the families. He has also campaigned for the “humane” treatment of arrested IM cadres and sought their expeditious trial.

IM, founded by the Bhatkal brothers Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal, is a terror outfit made up of former Simi cadres with direct links to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba. It was propped up the LeT-Simi combine to carry out terror attacks in the hinterland to give the impression that it was the handiwork of ‘indigenous radicals’.

IM was most active in 2008, when it carried out blasts in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Bangalore. It was also linked to the German Bakery blasts in Pune in February 2010.

Though IM received a major blow following the killing/arrest of many of its leaders and cadre in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi, its leadership remained out of bounds after senior commanders such as Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, Shahnawaz (brother of Mohammad Saif, an IM cadre arrested following the Batla House encounter) escaped to safehouses in Pakistan and the UAE.

Of the 20-odd IM leaders wanted in various terror cases, as many as 14 are believed to have left Indian shores and found sanctuaries in either Pakistan or the Gulf. Only 5-6 IM leaders are still believed to be holed up in India.

The IM network however continues to thrive, given the votebank politics in states like UP that has forced leaders cutting across party lines to keep out law enforcement agencies from their alleged hideouts in Azamgarh.

“The IM has enough sympathisers, both underground and overground. There are several political fronts comprising radicals backing IM and providing them the necessary logistics,” the intelligence official pointed out.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 068373.cms

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 10 Dec 2010 04:05

So "intelligence" admits that political regime and IM stand and fall together. Which should be good news, even if more lives are lost. This may sound cynical, but is aligned to what I have projected for a long time - that it has to get much worse before things can turn around.

Only thing is, does not the "centre" realize that continuing in this "mutual benefit" mode will one day mean not only the fall of the IM but together with it - the erasure of the political system? What will be the angry replacement for a regime and political process that will be seen as cynically callous with the majority of the people's lives? Not a democracy!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Dec 2010 05:09

Two reports from Pioneer. Looks like only they care for it.

LUCKNOW | Friday, December 10, 2010 |
Probe agencies suspect role of a new moduleDecember 10, 2010 5:33:32 AM

Preetam Srivastava | Lucknow
Suspecting the involvement of Indian Mujahideen (IM) in the Tuesday blast at Sheetla Ghat in Varanasi, the investigating agencies including National Investigation Agency (NIA), Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), also believed that there could be an altogether new module which triggered the blast.

The investigating agencies’ suspicion of the role of a new module finds a root in the new method used by the perpetrators who took care of the fact that their mission was not foiled by the security forces who were expected to be on high alert on the day of blast.

“The executors seemed to be well aware of the security drill taken by the law enforcement agencies at Ganga Ghat before the famous evening aarti hence they avoided using iron splinters, iron nails or iron balls in the bomb so as to escape the metal detectors,” said a senior officer monitoring the investigation into the blast.

The officer said that they were waiting for the report of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) of Agra to get a confirmed report about the nature of the explosive used in the bomb. However, they believed that it was a mixture of high and low quality of explosives like RDX and ammonium nitrate hinting at the role of some militant organisation in the incident.

“The modus operandi and the method used in making the bomb also pointed at the involvement of some new module of Indian Mujahideen hailing from eastern UP, especially, Azamgarh,” observed the officer concerned.

He added that so far they had recovered only a two-inch-long wire fitted with a hair clip which was possibly used to trigger the blast. It was also handed over to FSL, Agra for examination. They were also trying to take help of some video footages taken by the visitors during the aarti.

Meanwhile ADG (Crime, Law & Order) Brij Lal claimed that so far they failed to recover any circuit or its part which could indicate the method through which the bomb was detonated.

The investigating agencies were taking the help of divers to look for detonator or Improvised Explosive Device (IED) inside the Ganga as it might have fallen in the river after the blast.

About the nature of explosive used in the blast, Brij Lal said that the team of FSL Agra is already on job and probably by Friday they would get a report in that regard.

The Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) forensic experts had also gathered the sample from the site. The NIA and STF teams were camping in Varanasi to get some clue so that they could proceed further and close in on the criminals.

and

Varanasi blast: Cops fail to get lead
December 10, 2010 5:33:10 AM

Pioneer News Service | Varanasi

Special Task Force (STF) probing into the Tuesday blast at Sheetla Ghat in Varanasi, detained a person for interrogation. According to information, person detained was identified as Mobin of Madanpura under Dashashwamedh police station. Mobin had been involved in the repairing of ghat stairs recently.

Meanwhile, Additional Director General (Intelligence) Malkiyat Singh visited the blast site along with Inspector General (Range) RP Singh here on Thursday.

The ADG (Intelligence) held a meeting with the officers concerned at Circuit House and discussed the details of the incident and took stock of the findings of the priamry inquiry held by different intelligence agenices.

According to information, the intelligence agencies were examining about 15,000 telephone calls which took place just before and after the blast on December 7. The intelligence agencies are also studying the movement of some suspects supposedly close to terrorist organisations belonging to Sajjarpur in Azamgarh and Jaunpur districts.

Meanwhile, one more team of forensic experts from Delhi arrived here to study the nature of the bomb used by the terrorist in the blast which killed a child and injured 37 persons. Earlier, Sigra police had detained a suspected person from Cantt Roadways depot for interrogation.

Person detained belonged to Kerala and he was carrying his PAN card and driving licence also. The police also reportedly contacted his family back in Kerala and examined his laptop.

On the other hand, on the third day after the blast, Sheetla Ghat remained virtually sealed as various experts and VIPs were visiting the site frequently. The life was yet to be normal there and only symbolic ‘Ganga-aarti’ with one lamp was performed .

Various committees involved in Ganga-aarti at various ghats had decided to observe symbolic aarti for three days till Friday.

So the bomb was unique and new type. Lets wait for Friday news.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 10 Dec 2010 05:32

Ananya
Its for this reason Azamgarh is called Atankgarh and Economic times is now echoing what exactly i had mentioned in the begiining of this dhaga on 7th . Political inaction protects Azamgarhi Paki Paws but security agencies should go ahead and cut the claws and clean the mess in that particular locality.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Dec 2010 07:10

Could the maal be P E T N the stuff of choice in Middle East?

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 10 Dec 2010 08:25

At this stage I would expect the intel agencies to be spreading at least some misinformation and not stating exactly what they have found - so it may be very difficult to reach any conclusions via news reports. Judging from past events - it usually happens that the guilty in such blasts, if in India, get caught only 2 to 5 years after he incident. But as long as they are in India they do not get away. The problem IMO is to force the bhenchodian middle east and their Paki dickheads into line.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 10 Dec 2010 10:28

Ananya wrote:The IM network however continues to thrive, given the votebank politics in states like UP that has forced leaders cutting across party lines to keep out law enforcement agencies from their alleged hideouts in Azamgarh.

If various political parties are so "IM friendly" then we may have to take the "Mahdani way" out. Kerala politicians also had this fetish for Mahdani, and would not have gone against him what ever crime he commited in the state. But then I guess old man Mahdani over-shot his mandate and tried tricks else where. T.N Police picked him for the Coimbatore blasts and served him Pongal Vadai for around 9 years. Now Karnataka Police is doing the honours of serving him Bisi bele bath. The police agencies perhaps should focus on luring these IM agents out of Azamgarh and picking them up from else where.

AbhishekD · Post by **AbhishekD** » 10 Dec 2010 11:04

The thing about Azamgarh is that they cannot move outside UP and Delhi. The people of UP and Delhi will suffer. Once they put their hands anywhere outside, they will have to pay for it. It is not a very prudent strategy.

This attack is more of a recruitment. They have attacked just enough to gain publicity but not deadly enough to make their network light up and become vulnerable to detection. It clearly shows that IM is trying to regroup. They are weak right now and want to recruit badly. Normal recruitment did not work so they used this way.

If we are able to take out these remnants then IM can become history for atleast 4-5 years. This is a good stage for intelligence agencies to wrap-up IM from India. The Bangalore strike did not give them the publicity, this one did. It was an easy target and did not need much planning, perfect strike to increase recruitment

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 10 Dec 2010 12:18

IM sits pretty in Azamgarh, UP govt tells police not to raid hub

Congress, led by party general secretary Digvijay Singh , have spoken out against “harassment” of families of suspected IM cadre in Azamgarh.

The IM network however continues to thrive, given the votebank politics in states like UP that has forced leaders cutting across party lines to keep out law enforcement agencies from their alleged hideouts in Azamgarh.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 068373.cms

Congress ka haath, Aatanki ke saath

Its natural if people start voting for political parties that support counter-terror attacks on terrorist hubs in Azamgarh, it would be proper revenge to see people in Azamgarh dying when the milkcan goes off in their houses

That's the only way left to protect ourselves now since congress inspite of being in power wont arrest terrorists and put an end to terrorist attacks, 5000 people died under congress rule during the last year and they are not serious in ending this menace since they are busy protecting sonia name from cropping up in the 2G, CWG Scams

AbhishekD · Post by **AbhishekD** » 10 Dec 2010 13:39

Its natural if people start voting for political parties that support counter-terror attacks on terrorist hubs in Azamgarh, it would be proper revenge to see people in Azamgarh dying when the milkcan goes off in their houses

I would say that we dont express in a way that borders on supporting violence or terrorism