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The terrorist attacks on 19 February
2007 on the Delhi-Attari bound special train, the Samjhauta Express,
took place near Deewana in Panipat, about 50 miles away from New
Delhi. The train literally means 'Understanding' and it connects New
Delhi to Pakistan's city of Lahore. It has been the symbol of unity
since it was initiated in 1975.
Soon after the attack, about five unexploded improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) have been recovered from the train.
They were kept in suitcases along with inflammable liquids.
Investigations have pointed out that a cocktail of explosives,
including sulphur or nitrate and kerosene bombs were used to trigger
the blasts and create subsequent fire. Investigating team also
found kerosene bottles in the train which could facilitate fire to
spread to other bogies of the train, not to forget the spead with
which the fire would spead in a moving train. Orpat digital watches
were used as timers. The main purpose of these attacks is to use small
explosives but generate the desired, maximum, impact.
The terrorists have been using a similar method over the last
few years. For instance, ammonium nitrate was used in the July 2006 Mumbai serial train
blasts, February 2006 Ahmedabad railway station
blast, Sabarmati Express explosion in August 2000 and few others.
Another one of a similar nature was the explosion at Delhi
on 29 October 2005, where the terrorists used LPG cylinders to create
widespread impact of the blasts, whereas in Mumbai and Varanasi, they
used pressure cookers for increasing the intensity and as a good
camouflage.
A very crucial factor in these attacks is, the terrorists are grouping
together from all over the country and also from different countries.
Some of the infiltrators who were arrested recently, were caught
carrying explosives, detonators, timers, live smoke grenades and most
of them are located at areas near Bangladesh, Nepal and West Bengal.
The terrorists are recruiting a series of local workers for
transporting weapons and explosives very effectively. The poor
passengers are willing to transfer bags in lieu of free tickets and
some token money. The local recruits are willing to do this petty job
of exchanges as it covers their traveling expenses. These trains are
more effectively used for smuggling currencies, drugs, weapons and
explosives.
Some of the passengers of the Samjhauta Express have opined on the changed
notion of “religious divide” between India and Pakistan. Many of them
were reminded of the partition days. A sixty year old survivor of Samjhauta
Express said that, “I come to India almost every alternate year…The
people, police, doctors of your country have treated us like their
own. Shame on the people who did this.” The survivors also hoped that
the attack would not derail the peace process between the two
countries. The people want peace to prevail between India and Pakistan.
Even the leadership on both sides have taken the matter very maturely.
In a positive move, for the first time now, the officials from the
Pakistani High Commission were allowed to visit the site of the blast.
Both sides condemned the attack and decided not to derail the peace
process and they intend to join hands against the wicked designs of
terrorism. New Delhi has very spontaneously arranged the visa process
for Pakistani officials and relatives to attend to the dead and the
injured. It is quite a mature step taken by both the countries in
which their security and political establishments convey compassion by
giving primacy to the victims. Unlike in the past, they have taken
adequate steps in keeping up with the demands of the victims by
firstly dealing with human tragedy rather then following the
traditional method of confrontation.and accusations.
Thus, no matter how developed or sophisticated measures for evaluating
terrorist threats and managing terrorist incidents have been invented,
essential information on planning for terrorist attacks are yet to be
developed. In spite of adopting more flexible strategies, the
government and the security establishment has a long way to go in
dealing with rising challenges of security.
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