Bombing in Jaipur, Indian Church: "a senseless act of violence"
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – We have witnessed a "senseless act of violence". With these words, Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil condemns, in the name of the Indian Church, the bombing attack that yesterday evening struck the old city of Jaipur, in Rajastan, killing at least 80 and injuring 200. The president of the Indian Catholic bishops' conference pledges that "our sympathies and our prayers are with the victims, their families who lost their loved ones in this senseless violence". "The Church and Christian institutions in Jaipur", the cardinal continues, "will extend all our medical and paramedical services to the injured in these serial blasts. The Church will devote all her services and manpower to ensure that peace and normalcy returns to the Pink City (editor's note: Jaipur gets this name from the colour of the buildings and walls of the old city), over time we will send our trained counsellors to held the people who are affected heal the wounds of this manmade tragedy".
This morningm, a curfew is in effect in the old city, and will remain in effect at least until this evening. Yesterday, seven bombs exploded in 12-minute intervals, near the symbolic monument of the capital of Rajastan, the Palace of Winds. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the local police chief says it was "terrorism". The methods used direct suspicion toward the Islamic extremists of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Formed in Afghanistan and taking shelter in Pakistan - in close connection with the Taliban and al-Qaeda - the organisation has repeatedly tried to ruin the negotiations over Kashmir. The Pakistani authorities have reacted quickly. Prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has condemned "all acts of terrorism", and stresses the country's "firm commitment to combatting this scourge, together with the international community".
Yesterday, Cardinal Vithayathil recalls, "the world celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. We pray that the Blessed Mother may bring her maternal consolation and peace to the bereaved. We also intercede for the people who planned and carried out these series of explosions which caused so much destruction to life and property . . . may the Light of Truth illumine the dark evil of their deeds".
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