2006 Varanasi bombings

In March 2006, the Indian city of Varanasi witnessed a series of bombings in which at least 28 people were reportedly killed and 101 injured. Varanasi is considered holy by Hindus and is one of the oldest living city in the world.

Quotes

• This time, the holy city of Varanasi was their target. The bomb blast ripped off the outer perimeter of the Sankat Mochan Temple. Like most other blasts of those years, it was also thought to be a cylinder blast in the beginning. Since the blasts were a regular occurrence, the media were extra cautious while confirming a major terrorist act. The bomb went off at the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi at the time of evening prayers. At least 10 people lost their lives, and over 40 were injured. Soon after, another blast occurred at city’s railway station killing five people.
  • Tiwari, D. P., . (2019). The great indian conspiracy. London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.

• There were reports of an unexploded bomb on Shivganga Express train, resulting in hours of delay in its schedule. An anchor is often required to speak impromptu when a news just breaks in. Such was the frequency of terror blasts in those days that I had become used to speaking on such incidents. I even taught media students how to delve on the news of a terrorist act in the initial few minutes and how the news could eventually turn from a suspected cylinder blast to a major terror conspiracy. The news of a blast would come all of a sudden in those days. Such events had ceased to evoke the same astonishment from the viewers. I had also become used to the terror-related news much like a pathologist becomes accustomed to post-mortems.
  • Tiwari, D. P., . (2019). The great indian conspiracy. London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.

• One fine evening, quite late in the evening actually, as I was preparing to leave for the day I received a call from my superior officer. When I reached his office, I was told that there were bomb blasts in Cantonment station and the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi. I was told to collect the details from the MHA Control Room and draft a statement for the Minister....
  The significance of this incident is that, after this attack, the frequency of terror attacks increased dramatically and became rather routine occurrences in the hinterlands of India.
  • Mani, R. V. S. (2018). The myth of Hindu terror: Insider account of Ministry of Home Affairs 2006-2010.