Hindu Americans react to terror strikes at New Delhi's High Court

Washington, D.C. (September 9, 2011) - Leaders at the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) were stunned after the deadly bombing yesterday that killed twelve and injured dozens outside the Delhi High Court in India's capital. The attack using a briefcase bomb was strategically planned to maximize casualties as Wednesdays see large crowds at the High Court.

 

"We offer our condolences to the families of those who perished and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF Director. “It is our sincere hope that the state brings the perpetrators to justice. Citizens of the world’s largest democracy should never fear visiting their government institutions, or any public space.”

 

Yesterday's bombing was the first major attack in New Delhi in over three years, though India’s financial capital, Mumbai, saw blasts that killed over 20 in crowded market places this past July. South Asian-based terror group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), listed by the U.S. State Department as having links to al-Qaeda, and the indigenous Indian Mujahideen, which also has international terrorist links, have both made conflicting claims of responsibility for the violence.

 

HuJI and other groups have conducted similar bombings in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and in other parts of India, and this has been documented in HAF’s annual human rights report. Police forces have detained five people in connection with Wednesday’s blasts, but believe it is too early to name any one particular group as responsible.

 

"It is imperative that the Indian government provides adequate security in places where large crowds gather, especially in and near government buildings,” said Jay Kansara, HAF’s Associate Director. “Many of the perpetrators of the horrific attacks on India’s Parliament in 2003 and in Mumbai on November 2008 and July 2011 are yet to be brought to justice. In the meantime, these groups with clear ties to Pakistan’s military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency continue to use terror to carry out a proxy war on India. We urge the U.S. to curb funding to countries who use terror as an instrument of state policy.”