Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks in India : December 13, 2001: Attack on Indian Parliament

Militants attack Jammu and Kashmir again

The Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao had very recently said that easing of tensions between India and Pakistan has increased the prospects of peace in South Asia. He even told how in times of Mahabharata the ancient Indians ceased wars so that peace could prevail and bring prosperity. But it looks he had spoken too soon.

But, on September 25, 2013, terror outfits from Pakistan brutally killed six policeman, four soldiers and two civilians in an audacious attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

What was important that the attacks took place just a day after the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in USA on September 29, 2013.

In the backdrop of such a cowardly attack, there have been various reactions suggesting Manmohan Singh to cancel his meeting with Nawaz Sharif. But the Prime Minister has decided to go ahead and keep his appointment with the Pak PM.

Even a Pakistani daily had recently observed that the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders as a positive measure in the direction of peace.

But as and when an initiative is taken, forces from the other side have tried their best to derail the process.

August 6, 2013: Indian soldier `beheaded by Pakistan troops’

India and Pakistan’s relations hit a new low on 6 January 2013. A heavily armed team of terrorists and Pakistani troops ambushed and Indian Army patrol along the LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. They killed five Indian soldiers. It was in line with the series of ceasefire violations and the worst on January 8, 2013, when one Indian soldier was beheaded.

September 7, 2011: Delhi High Court blast

A suspected briefcase bomb went off in the Delhi high court near the Gate no.5 on September 7, 2011. The blast killed 12 people and left 76 injured. The Gate no.5 is the main entry point for most people, so obviously the terrorists felt that the damage would be maximum. The blast was claimed by Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJi).

February 13, 2010: German Bakery blast in Pune

Eight people were killed and over 50 were injured when a powerful blast ripped through the German bakery in Koregaon Park. Pune was targeted for the terror outfits for the first time during this attack. The bakery is located in very close proximity to the Jewish Chabad house and the Osho Ashram. The motive behind the attacks was to kill and instill fear in the foreigners.

November 26, 2008: Mumbai terror attacks

The world had never witnessed such scenes of horror at so many places in a city within such a short span of time. 10 terrorists who came via sea to Mumbai from Pakistan, and held the city hostage for three days. The people of the city witnessed hell in Mumbai with the terrorists indiscriminately killing people wherever they wished. The Leopold Café, the Chhatrapati Terminus, The Oberoi, Nariman House all echoed with cries of death and anguish. The famed Taj Mahal Hotel became graveyard for numerous people. Almost 170 people were dead and more than 300 were wounded.

July 25, 2008: Bangalore blasts

The IT hub of India, Bangalore was left dumbfounded when a series of nine blasts ricocheted through the city. Though the death toll was two people, the sheer audacity of attack took everyone by surprise.

May 13, 2008: Jaipur blasts

Within a spate of 15 minutes, nine blasts shook the pink city of India. The pink city tuned red with almost 80 people being killed in these blasts. It is believed that the Indian Mujhahideen were behind the attacks. One of the blasts occurred very close the famous Hawa Mahal.

July 11, 2006: Mumbai train blasts

Within 11 minutes and seven blasts, the lifeline of Mumbai, the local trains became the graveyard for the Mumbaikars. The bombs were set off in pressure cookers on the trains plying the Western line of Mumbai. It was perhaps the most horrific way of infusing fear in the hearts of people. More than 200 people were killed and 700 were injured. The blasts took place at or near the stations of Matunga, Mahim, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali.

March 7, 2006: Varanasi bombings

The holy city of Varanasi fell prey to the evil antics of terrorists. A series of blasts occurred across the city leaving almost 20 dead and several injured. The blasts occurred almost simultaneously, one near the Sankatmochan temple and the other being at the Varanasi Cantonment Area. The Varanasi blasts were both shake the Hindu worshippers as well as the large number of foreigners who visit it.

October 29, 2005: Delhi serial blasts

The capital India came to a halt and all the Diwali celebrations were interrupted. Just two days before Diwali the city was rocked with blasts in Pahargunj and Sarojini Nagar markets, and a third one went off in a bus in Govindpuri. 62 people were killed and approximately 200 people were injured in these blasts.

September 24, 2002: Akshardham attack

The entire world watched with horror at the harrowing events at the Akshardham temple in Gujarat, a complex dedicated to world peace and harmony. The temple was under siege by terrorists, which ended in a heinous carnage. The terrorists, who were heavily armed, fired indiscriminately at people. 30 people were killed in the attack and 80 were injured. After a tough fight by the NSG commandos, the terrorists were killed and the temple perimeter secured.

December 13, 2001: Attack on Indian Parliament

In one the most daring terror attack ever to have been carried out by terrorists, December 13, 2001, proved to be really historic. The perpetrators of terror entered the premises of the Parliament of India with the intention of killing as many leaders as possible. But the valiant soldiers of India did not let it happen. After a long gun battle between the terrorists and the security forces, all the five terrorists were shot down. In the process India lost nine of its valiant policemen.

Sushmita Dutta