Blast in the Samjhauta Express

Date: 
Monday, February 19, 2007

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

On Blast in the Samjhauta Express

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) has strongly condemned the blast in the Samjhauta Express. Around midnight, the Samjhauta Express which plies between Delhi and Attari in Pakistan, two bogies caught fire while passing Deewana railway station near Panipat. In all, 54 deaths have been confirmed so far including those of three RPF personnel. Preliminary enquiries have revealed existence of two IEDs in the affected bogies while another two, kept in suitcases were found in two other bogies. A large number of those who have died in this tragic incident are Pakistani citizens.

It is clear from the circumstances that the blast in the Samjhauta Express is the handiwork of forces aiming to derail the peaceful dialogue process between India and Pakistan. The incident has taken place a day ahead of the visit of Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns this gruesome incident in the strongest terms and demands that the government should leave no effort to uncover the conspiracy which led to this tragedy. The Polit Bureau condoles the death of the innocent victims and expressed its solidarity with the bereaved families. Polit Bureau also urges the government to take all care for the treatment of those who have been injured. The kith and kin of all those who have died should be given adequate compensation. The Polit Bureau also urges the people to remain united and protest this heinous action.