MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

audio-cassettes of Mr Modi's anti-minority remarks. He, however, observed: "No organisation should do
anything that might disrupt the communal harmo ny of the country. (Asian Age 25.9.02)
26 th September
Terrorists were teenagers dedicated to revenge (7)
Ahmedabad, Sept. 25: The two terrorists, who stormed the Akshardham temple complex in Gandhinagar
on Tuesday in which 44 persons were killed and over 70 injured, were teenagers. One of the them was
lanky and short, and only had the semblance of a beard. While the other terrorist was taller and looked a
little older, he too could not be above 20 years of age, acting superintendent of Gandhinagar R.B.
Bhrambhatt, who handled the terrorist opera tion, said. Dressed in T-shirts and jeans, the two terrorists
were armed with an AK-47 rifle each. Special I-G (in-charge of Gandhinagar range) Pramod Kumar said
both the terrorists were carrying about a dozen magazines each and around 15 hand grenades. (Asian
Age 26.9.02)
Even Muslims visited temple in peace quest (7)
Ahmedabad, Sept. 25: The terrorist attack on Swaminarayan temple has been condemned by all,
including Muslims. The Bochasan-wasi Akshar Purshottam Swaminarayan Sansthan is also a popular
tourist spot besides being a place of wor ship. It attracts Muslims, Sikhs and also people of other religions.
Abdul Jamalbhai Meer, a painter from Rajkot, who was seriously injured when he was visiting
Akshardham with his son-in-law Anwar Karim Meer. Abdul, 60, expressing his anger and grief, said, "I had
collected money to visit my daughter whom I had not seen for a long time. (Asian Age 26.9.02)
Seven killed in yet another attack on Christians (7)
Karachi: Two gunmen have burst into a Christian charity in Karachi and tied up and shot dead seven
Christians, police say. The attack was the latest in a series of bloody assaults on Christian or Western
targets since Pakistan's military govern ment sided with the US. Police said two other people were
wounded in Wednesday's attack at the city centre offices of the Idare-e Amn-0-Insaf, or the Organisation
for Peace and Justice. "The gunmen first roped all the people inside the room, they also taped their
mouths," a police officer said. "After, they fired straight at their heads." Karachi police chief Tariq Jamil told
re porters all six of those killed were Chris tians and they had been gagged before they were shot with
pistols. (Times of India 26.9.02)
Gujarat not ready for polls: Jethmalani (7)
New Delhi, Sept. 25: The Bihar government on Wednesday backed the elec tion commission's stand on
the elections in Gujarat and told the Supreme Court that the Centre wants to put a "sham Assembly" in the
state by pressing for early elec tions. Arguing in the Supreme Court on the presidential ref erence, the Bihar
government counsel, Mr Ram Jethamalani, contended the Election Commission was right in stating that
the situa tion was not conducive to hold elections in Gujarat. (Asian Age 26.9.02)
Togadia: I can’t predict; victims aren’t guessing (7)
Ahmedabad: WHEN asked whether the VHP sponsored nation wide bandh on Thursday would turn violent,
the organ isation's general secretary, Praveen Togadia, said he couldn't make any predic tions; after all, he
wasn't an astrologer. At Naroda Patiya, they're not staying back to find out. The Ahmedabad colony has
emptied out since Tuesday night—except for one family, all residents have moved right back to the relief
camps they returned from only recently. The presence of two po lice jeeps just outside Naroda Patiya, the
policemen de ployed on the road joining Naroda and Kalupur stations didn't appear to assuaged the
residents' fears. (Indian Exp 26.9.02)
27 th September
Hate campaign targets Christians in Ajmer (7)
JAIPUR, SEPT. 26. Christians in Ajmer and in the adjoining can tonment town of Nazirabad are feeling
terrorised following a hate campaign unleashed against them by "Hindutva" forces. There is an
orchestrated campaign against the commu nity in the area and the situa tion got aggravated recently
after the visit of the VHP leader, Pravin Togadia, it is pointed out. A group of activists and the
representatives of the Christian organisations who met the Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, here told him
that the Christian institutions were being targeted for attack and the administra tion and the police