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WASHINGTON, D.C. (August
16, 2006) – The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) strongly
condemned the attack on the ISKCON temple in Imphal, in the
Northeastern State of Manipur, India. At least five people
have died and nearly 50 others injured. According to news
reports, the bomb exploded in the complex of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Imphal on the
evening of August 16, 2006 when the temple was crowded with
devotees observing the holy day of Sri Krishna Janmasthami.
Among the dead were a 10-year-old boy and a 70-year-old woman,
and the chief priest of the ISKCON temple was injured in the
attack. Some reports have blamed Islamic terrorists for the
attack, and news agency reports have alluded to the separatist
movements in the region which may be behind the attack.
“Whoever is responsible
for this knows that India and Hindus are soft targets”,
said Ramesh Rao, HAF Executive Council Member. “This
attack on the ISKCON temple that serves all devotees and all
visitors with welcome arms is an example of the lengths that
terrorists go to undermine the fabric of India and to provoke
religious and sectarian conflict.” Ishani Chowdhury,
Executive Director, HAF remarked, “The ISKCON temple
attack is the latest in a series of attacks against Hindus
and Indian targets. In October 2005, we expressed shock at
the Delhi bombings that killed more than 60 people during
the festival of Deepavali (Diwali), and in March 2006, we
were deeply dismayed at the attack on the Sankat Mochan temple
in Varanasi, which killed more than 20 people. The serial
bombing of commuter trains in Mumbai in July 2006 that killed
nearly 200 people is still fresh in our memory. The Indian
Government should reach out to all political parties in crafting
legislation that strengthens law enforcement agencies, and
defeat this scourge of terrorism and extremism rather than
playing politics with the lives of Indian citizens.”
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