Bomb attack on the Samjhauta Express

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In the bomb attack on the Samjhauta Express on the night of February 18, 2007, 68 people died without anyone responsible for the attack being arrested.

Starting position

Relations between the two states of India and Pakistan have been strained since their separation after the dissolution of the colony of British India in 1947.

The Samjhauta Express is an international express train that connects the cities of New Delhi (India) and Lahore (Pakistan) twice a week .

Happening

23:53 exploded in two crowded Großraumwagen the lower car class ( "Unreserved Coaches"), which were also crammed even with luggage, at the end of the train several bombs as the train with about 100 km / h in the station of Diwana in the state of Haryana , went into it, so still moved on Indian territory. The two cars immediately caught fire . The station staff arranged for the train to stop at the next available signal . The situation was made worse by the fact that the two affected wagons had no crossings to neighboring wagons, meaning that passengers were blocked from any escape route .

consequences

68 people died and 50 were also injured. Most of the victims were Pakistani citizens. In addition, members of the Indian train crew and security guards died . During the subsequent investigation, three more suitcase bombs were discovered that had not detonated .

Speculations about the perpetrators of the attack immediately set in, without anyone acknowledging it or without the investigations providing any clear information about the background to the crime. It may have been connected with the visit of the Pakistani Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri , to New Delhi the next day, who thus resumed the peace talks between the two states.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ NN: Dozens dead .
  2. ↑ NN: Dozens dead .
  3. ↑ Hitender Rao: 66 die .

Coordinates: 29 ° 18 ′ 34.6 ″  N , 76 ° 58 ′ 59.5 ″  E