2008 Western India bombings

Terror attacks in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra April 2014 February 2024 2008 western India bombings yes 2008 09 29 Locals SIMI 6 101 Terrorism India On 29 September 2008 three bombs exploded in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra of India killing 6 people and injuring over 100.http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/5-killed-80-injured-in-blasts-in-guj-maha-towns/367394/ 06 killed, 80 injured in blasts in Gujarat, Mahashtra towns 29 September 2008 Press Trust of India The Indian Express 29 September 2008 Two bombs went off in Malegaon, Maharashtra, which killed nine people while another blast in Modasa, Gujarat resulted in the death of one person. National Investigation Agency initially accused 7 people, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, and demanded punishment under UAPA. However after later investigation, NIA acquitted all the suspects due to lack of evidence. Background India witnessed a surge in terror attacks since May 2008, when a series of blasts in Jaipur killed 63. Majumdar Bappa Unknown terror group claims responsibility https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/unknown-terror-group-claims-responsibility/story-iuinbeKkvLE0QSQOPLG2gO.html Hindustan Times 15 May 2008 Since then, other major Indian cities including Bangalore,http://www.ibnlive.com/news/nine-blasts-rock-bangalore-two-killed/69540-3.html Nine blasts rock Bangalore | Chaos and y curiousity 25 July 2008 IBN Live 3 August 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080805034238/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/nine-blasts-rock-bangalore-two-killed/69540-3.html 5 August 2008 dead AhmedabadGujarat police release three sketches The Hindu Kasturi & Sons Ltd 6 August 2008 http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15625&Itemid=88 https://web.archive.org/web/20081004152410/http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15625&Itemid=88 usurped 4 October 2008 6 August 2008 and Delhi were targeted. On 29 September 2008, police in Ahmedabad, Gujarat foiled another terror attack when 17 bombs were found and defused.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7642937.stm Police 'find 17 bombs' in Gujarat BBC News 29 September 2008 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081002144900/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7642937.stm 2 October 2008 live However, a bomb exploded at a market packed with Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast, killing one and wounding 15.https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna26946171 Explosion kills 1, wounds 15 in western India Associated Press NBC News 29 September 2008 3 October 2008 Another bomb placed near a Temple in Faridabad was found and defused.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bomb-found-in-Faridabad-defused-by-civilian/articleshow/3540338.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20121104120050/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-29/india/27925521_1_bomb-faridabad-banke-bihari-temple live 4 November 2012 Bomb found in Faridabad, defused by civilian 28 September 2008 The Times of India 3 October 2008 Furthermore, the bombs were purportedly similar to those that exploded in Delhi two days before this attack.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Blasts-in-Maharashtra-Gujarat-8-killed/articleshow/3542011.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20121021220128/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-30/india/27950271_1_cylinder-delhi-blasts-mysterious-blasts live 21 October 2012 Blasts in Maharashtra, Gujarat; 8 killed 30 September 2008 3 October 2008 Mateen Hafeez Yogesh The Times of India Naik The explosions in Malegaon and Modasa occurred on the eve of Navratri, a major Hindu festival celebrated across India.http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=58462ebb-1d3d-42c5-962f-a93c44f86424&&Headline=Three+blown+dead%3a+This+terror+run+isn%E2%80%99t+over+yet 3 blown dead: This terror run isn't over yet Hindustan Times 29 September 2008 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081003001737/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=58462ebb-1d3d-42c5-962f-a93c44f86424&&Headline=Three+blown+dead%3a+This+terror+run+isn%E2%80%99t+over+yet 3 October 2008 dead Blast The Malegaon blast occurred near a hotel at Bhikku Chowk, Maharashtra. The bombs were allegedly fitted onto a Hero Honda motorcycle and rigged to detonate.http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=e36f87dc-df91-4445-8fe3-79cfbaa4fc69&&Headline=Situation+remains+tense%3b+curfew+relaxed Malegaon blast: Situation remains tense; curfew relaxed Hindustan Times 30 September 2008 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081004142124/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=e36f87dc-df91-4445-8fe3-79cfbaa4fc69&&Headline=Situation+remains+tense%3B+curfew+relaxed 4 October 2008 dead http://www.ibnlive.com/news/blasts-in-maharashtra-gujarat-towns-4-dead/74634-3.html Four dead in Guj, Maharashtra blasts ibnlive.com 29 September 2008 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081002114844/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/blasts-in-maharashtra-gujarat-towns-4-dead/74634-3.html 2 October 2008 dead The Modasa blasts, resulting in the death of a 15-year-old boy as well as injuries to several others, was the result of a motorcycle bomb that detonated near a mosque at the Muslim-dominated Sukka Bazaar. The incident took place around 21:26 when special Ramadan prayers (tarawih) were being offered inside the mosque. Aftermath IBN reported that after the blast a mob of 20,000 Muslims gathered near the blast site, following which the state of Maharashtra deployed the Reserve Police Force to prevent any mob violence.http://www.ibnlive.com/news/malegaon-mob-violence-postblast-patil-appeals-for-peace/74640-3.html Malegaon: Mob violence post-blast, Patil appeals for peace ibnlive.com 30 September 2008 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081002112334/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/malegaon-mob-violence-postblast-patil-appeals-for-peace/74640-3.html 2 October 2008 dead The police brought the situation under control after a brief clash with the mob. Gujarat announced plans to deploy police in heavy numbers during the garba festivities.http://www.ibnlive.com/news/security-concerns-wheel-in-drivein-garba-in-gujarat/74641-3.html Security concerns wheel in drive-in Garba in Gujarat ibnlive.com 30 September 2008 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081004200312/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/security-concerns-wheel-in-drivein-garba-in-gujarat/74641-3.html 4 October 2008 dead Investigation Mumbai Police deployed Anti Terrorism Squad to assist the local investigating authorities in Malegaon.https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ats-team-to-investigate-blast-at-malegaon/story-KmIHYL9xOhyDhpqXxJe5lM.html ATS team to investigate blast at Malegaon Hindustan Times 2008-09-30 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081004142119/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=e2b9f3a1-b55b-460a-8b60-e600256ece3d&ParentID=e36f87dc-df91-4445-8fe3-79cfbaa4fc69&&Headline=ATS+team+to+investigate+blast+at+Malegaon 4 October 2008 live Police say that unsophisticated, crude bombs, identical to those that detonated in Delhi 3 days before, were used. The investigation was led by Mumbai Anti Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who was later killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Police across India, especially in Delhi, received a number of hoax calls and SMSes, hampering the investigation.http://www.ibnlive.com/news/hoax-terror-calls-smses-give-cops-sleepless-nights/74642-3.html Hoax terror calls, SMSes give cops sleepless nights ibnlive.com 30 September 2008 3 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081004200253/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/hoax-terror-calls-smses-give-cops-sleepless-nights/74642-3.html 4 October 2008 dead On 5 October, police said they had arrested a man in connection to the bombings. Press Trust of India reported that further investigations were under way, with more arrests expected.http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200810/s2382370.htm Man arrested over India blast Radioaustralia.net.au 5 October 2008 6 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081005234708/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200810/s2382370.htm 5 October 2008 dead Malegaon blasts Initial ATS Investigation under Hemant Karkare ATS arrested several suspects, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, alleging their links to a Hindutva outfit called Abhinav Bharat. Rarely seen as a terror case involving Hindu extremist groups, the investigation sparked the conception of the controversial "saffron terror" narrative.2008 Malegaon explosion: Not enough evidence to establish guilt https://www.newindianexpress.com/explainers/2025/Aug/03/2008-malegaon-explosion-not-enough-evidence-to-establish-guilt? Procedural Lapses & Allegations of Abuse The court later observed numerous investigative flaws: The bike’s chassis/engine numbers were tampered with; forensic links to it were inconclusive. Crime scene contamination occurred due to mob violence, and no DNA or ballistic evidence was collected under proper procedure. Police used phone taps and voice samples without statutory authorisation; electronic devices were not sealed properly, violating custodial rules.Court points out 5 loopholes in Malegaon 2008 blast investigations https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/court-points-out-5-loopholes-in-malegaon-2008-blast-investigations-2764487-2025-08-01 Narco-analysis reports and other scientific tests favorable to the accused were deliberately withheld from the chargesheet—found to be a major procedural failure'Prosecution withheld narco reports favouring accused' The Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/prosecution-withheld-narco-reports-favouring-accused/articleshow/123051312.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com March 2026 no Evidence of Coerced Confessions and Witness Retractions Testimony revealed that many witnesses, including Milind Joshirao, were allegedly tortured, threatened, or illegally detained until they named RSS figures like Yogi Adityanath and others. The court accepted that these statements were recorded under coercion and acknowledged thousands of witness statements turning hostile, undermining the prosecution’s credibility.Tortured, told to implicate Yogi, witness told court The Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/tortured-told-to-implicate-yogi-witness-told-court/articleshow/123051332.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com March 2026 no NIA investigation In April 2011, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) assumed control of the case and in 2016 filed a supplementary chargesheet, dropping MCOCA charges and diverging significantly from the ATS narrative. NIA highlighted that confessions and many prosecutions under ATS were based on coerced statements and lacked corroboration. 2008 Malegaon explosion: Not enough evidence to establish guilt https://www.newindianexpress.com/explainers/2025/Aug/03/2008-malegaon-explosion-not-enough-evidence-to-establish-guilt?utm_source=chatgpt.com March 2026 no Court Trial & Witness Examination From 2018 to November 2023, the court heard from 323 prosecution witnesses, of whom over 37 turned hostile. Final arguments concluded in April 2025.Timeline of events in 2008 Malegaon blasts case The Week https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/07/31/bom12-mh-court-malegaon-blast-timeline.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com March 2026 no Final Verdict (July 31, 2025) The Special NIA Court acquitted all seven accused, including Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lt. Col. Purohit, stating the prosecution failed to prove conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt. The court expressed deep concern over ATS misconduct: missing original documents, chain-of-custody violations, planting of evidence, and use of coercion during interrogations.2008 Malegaon Blast Verdict: Special NIA Court Flags Evidence Tampering, Recommends Action Against ATS Officers https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/2008-malegaon-blast-verdict-special-nia-court-flags-evidence-tampering-recommends-action-against-ats-officers?utm_source=chatgpt.com March 2026 no Notably, ATS officers were recommended for inquiry due to suspicions of planting explosive traces (RDX) at accused’s residences.Malegaon blast Judgement highlights contradictions in probe by NIA and ATS The Week https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/08/01/bom37-mh-court-malegaon-blast-judgment.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com March 2026 no The judge emphasised: “Suspicion cannot replace legal proof,” making clear that convictions require proper, reliable, and admissible evidence. Aftermath Acquitted accused like Sameer Kulkarni accused the ATS of manipulation, political conspiracy, and targeting Hindus unjustly during the Congress regime. Former ATS officer Mehboob Mujawar claimed he had been ordered to falsely implicate figures like RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat —a claim dismissed by the court due to being recorded under Section 313 and lacking corroboration. His statement was legally inadmissible, though it did not directly evaluate the truth of those claims.'Was asked to arrest Mohan Bhagwat, instruction came directly from top', Ex-ATS officer on Malegaon case The Statesman https://www.thestatesman.com/india/was-asked-to-arrest-mohan-bhagwat-instruction-came-directly-from-top-ex-ats-officer-on-malegaon-case-1503465387.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com March 2026 no Modasa blasts Union Textiles Minister, Shankersinh Vaghela, came out with an allegedly scathing attack on the Gujarat government by saying it was not willing to nab the "real" culprits behind the blast even though the Congress MP from Sabarkantha, Madhusudan Mistry, had pointed a finger at probable suspects. He made the claim that the Gujarat Police had proved itself "useless" while it was heavily politicised in acting only on the orders issued by the Chief Minister's Office. He based this on the lack of arrests in Modesa, Gujarat, while Maharashtra police had already made arrests in the Malegaon case. With the connection to Hindu suspects in Malegaon, he said he too suspected a similar hand in these blasts. He further alleged, "This proves that terror knows no religion and that it was a matter of concern that so far it was only one-sided trend of targeting one community for suspicion and questioning."http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/modasa-blast-vaghela-accuses-modi-govt-of-lacking-will-calls-police-useless/378435/ Modasa blast: Vaghela accuses Modi govt of lacking will, calls police useless Express India 27 October 2008 27 October 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090114034949/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/modasa-blast-vaghela-accuses-modi-govt-of-lacking-will-calls-police-useless/378435/ 14 January 2009 In Gujarat, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, K.K. Mysorewala, who is heading the probe into the attack, said: "We have summoned some active ABVP members to record their statements to take our probe forward." He, however, refused to name those who have been summoned and the reason behind doing so. The Sabarkantha police have recorded statements from about 500-odd people until 28 October 2008.http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Modasa-blast--ABVP-members-to-be-quizzed/378587 Modasa blast: ABVP members to be quizzed The Indian Express 28 October 2008 28 October 2008 On 31 October, he exonerated the Malegoan accused from involvement in the Gujarat blasts. He said, "We have interrogated all the five who are currently in the custody of Mumbai police in connection with the Malegaon blast. None of them, however, are involved in the Modasa blast."http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Modasa-blast--Police-give-clean-chit-to-Sadhvi--others/380031 Modasa blast: Police give clean chit to Sadhvi, others The Indian Express 31 October 2008 12 November 2008 On 7 November, it was reported that clues may be emerging. The origin of a readymade Printed Circuit Board (PCB) used in the timer circuit of the bomb may yield greater clues and lead to arrests. Unlike assembled PCBs, the manufacture of a readymade PCB can be tracked with the help of its specific manufacturing design and serial number. Experts in the Physics Department of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences (DFS) in the Gujarat capital of Gandhinagar say the readymade PCB consists of two Philips Integrated Circuits (ICs), and some capacitors and resistors mounted on a circuit board in a particular order. An expert involved with the case said that as a result of such moves "We have short-listed the names of some companies that manufacture PCBs of these types. The list had also been handed over to the Sabarkantha police and they are trying to track the final recipient of the PCB under examination. Though this can be a difficult task, it is not impossible."http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/readymade-printed-circuit-board-may-provide-clue-in-modasa-blast/382458/ Readymade Printed Circuit Board may provide clue in Modasa blast Express India 6 November 2008 12 November 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081224022547/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/readymade-printed-circuit-board-may-provide-clue-in-modasa-blast/382458/ 24 December 2008 deadhttps://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/malegaon-2008-blast-case-court-allows-exemption-to-pragya-thakur-as-a-last-chance-9281835/ Malegaon 2008 blast case: Court allows exemption to Pragya Thakur as a 'last chance' 20 April 2024 Indian Expresshttps://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-court-grants-bjp-mp-pragya-thakur-extension-citing-health-reasons-in-2008-malegaon-blast-case Mumbai: Court Grants BJP MP Pragya Thakur Extension Citing Health Reasons In 2008 Malegaon Blast Case Free Press Journalhttps://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/16-years-on-victims-of-2008-malegaon-blast-await-justice-3210977 16 years on, victims of 2008 Malegaon blast await justice deccanherald See also List of terrorist incidents in 2008 Saffron terror References External links Batla, Delhi blasts accused urge SC to club cases, order trials in Delhi – TCN News Special: New face of terror Picture gallery of blast sites Gujarat Maharashtra Category:21st-century mass murders in India Western India bombings Category:2000s in Gujarat Category:2008 murders in India Category:2008 mass murders Category:September 2008 in India Category:2000s in Maharashtra Category:Manmohan Singh administration Category:September 2008 crimes in Asia Category:2008 building bombings Category:Hotel bombings in India Category:Motorcycle bombings in India Category:Mosque bombings in India Category:Mass murders in Maharashtra Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Maharashtra Category:Crime in Gujarat Category:Marketplace attacks in India Category:Trials in India Category:Attacks on mosques in the 2000s