India

Unknown group claims responsibility for Tuesday's bombings

Article published on the 2008-05-15 Latest update 2008-05-15 15:29 TU

Indian police deployed in the streets of Jaipur after the 13 May blasts.
(Photo : Reuters)

Indian police say that a previously-unknown group, the Indian Mujahideen, says its bomb attacks in Jaipur on Tuesday were because of Delhi's support for the United States and the United Kingdom on international issues. Police have arrested two people and have a composite drawing of one of the alleged bombers.

Police said an e-mail was sent to several media organisations, with a video clip attached, showing one of the bicycles allegedly used in the attacks on Tuesday. Bombs were planted on nine bicycles, eight of which exploded within a time span of 12 minutes, killing 63 people.

Authorities say the e-mail was sent from an internet café in Sahibabad town, near Delhi.  

Correspondent Vikram Roy in Delhi says the group could have local or regional connections.  He reports that police are investigating the possibility that the Indian Mujhideen could be a front for the Bangladesh-based Harkatu Jihad-i-Islami or the Lashkar-i-Taiba, an organization banned in both India and Pakistan, which is fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.

"Either it is a ruse to divert attention from some obscure local issue or this group actually is part of the bigger network which has deep links with al-Qaeda and which does not want India to have any close ties with the United States and Great Britain," Roy said.