2006 Malegaon bombings

Bombings in Malegaon, Maharashtra state, India May 2016 January 2020 2006 Malegaon bombings India 300 right Malegaon 8 20.55 74.55 Malegaon, Maharashtra, India Vicinity of Mosque 8 September 2006 UTC+5.5 Bombings 45 125+ The 2006 Malegaon bombings took place on 8 September 2006 in Malegaon, a town in the Nashik district of the Indian state of Maharashtra, some 290 km northeast of Mumbai. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) initially blamed the bombings on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), but in a chargesheet filed in 2013 the NIA and ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) joint investigation and involved evidences allegedly pointed towards the involvement of eight members of group Abhinav Bharat, who were later released from charges due to lack of evidence.https://www.rediff.com/news/report/-malegaon-blasts-9-accused-set-to-walk-free/20130829.htm 2008 Malegaon blasts: 9 accused set to walk free Rediff14 May 2016 Malegaon blasts: Now NIA says Maharashtra ATS planted RDX to frame Lt Col Purohit https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/malegaon-blasts-in-a-turnaround-nia-says-maharashtra-anti-terror-squad-planted-rdx-to-frame-lt-col-purohit/articleshow/52262487.cms 10 May 2024 The Times of IndiaEight accused in 2006 Malegaon blasts case discharged https://www.thehindu.com/news/2006-Malegaon-blasts-case-accused-disharged/article60549167.ece 28 March 2026 The Hindu 25 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20260328162012/https://www.thehindu.com/news/2006-Malegaon-blasts-case-accused-disharged/article60549167.ece 28 March 2026 en-IN A July 2025 verdict by the special court in Mumbai acquitted all accused of the Abhinav Bharat group in the Malegaon blast case.2025-07-31 2008 Malegaon bomb blast: All 7 accused acquitted, court says prosecution failed to provide cogent and reliable evidence https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/2008-malegaon-bomb-blast-all-accused-acquitted-pragya-thakur-col-purohit-court-reliable-evidence-10160836/ 2025-07-31 The Indian Express en Explosion The explosions which resulted in at least 31 fatalities and 321 injuries, took place in a Muslim cemetery, adjacent to a mosque, at around 13:15 IST after Friday prayers on the holy day of Shab e Bara'at.https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/31-killed-100-injured-in-malegaon-blasts/article3072993.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20161220230021/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/31-killed-100-injured-in-malegaon-blasts/article3072993.ece live 20 December 2016 31 killed, 100 injured in Malegaon blasts The Hindu 8 September 2008 subscription www.thehindu.com Most of the blast victims were Muslim pilgrims. Security forces spoke of "two bombs attached to bicycles," but other reports indicated that three devices had exploded. A stampede ensued after the devices exploded. A curfew was imposed in the town and state paramilitary forces were deployed in sensitive areas to prevent unrest. Reactions Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh promised compensation payments of Rs 100,000 (approx. €1200 or US$1500 at the time) to the next-of-kin of the deceased.September 2013 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and appealed for calm.http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1790439,000900040001.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20070205080739/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1790439%2C000900040001.htm Blasts rock Malegaon 38 killed, over 100 injured 'Hindustan Times' 5 February 2007 Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the incident seemed designed to "divide the various sections of the public."http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0609090030sep09,1,2178741.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true Chicago Tribune Home Minister Shivraj Patil June 2016 medicmedic Congress party president Sonia Gandhi has called on Indians to maintain calm.Gandhi Calls on Indians to Maintain Calm https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2006090900763.html The Washington Post https://web.archive.org/web/20121107181307/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2006090900763.html 7 November 2012 live 21 March 2009 Aftab Khan 9 September 2008 dmy A home ministry official in Delhi said central security forces, including personnel from the anti-riot Rapid Action Force, were sent to Malegaon.http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=73608 https://web.archive.org/web/20120923023337/http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=73608 Centre rushing additional forces to Malegaon Indian Express 23 September 2012 There were episodes of violence when Muslims in Malegaon attacked police and their vehicles following the blasts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5330832.stm BBC News Indian town seething with anger 9 September 2008 Various Muslim leaders have denounced the bombings and prayed for peace.https://www.ndtv.com/ https://web.archive.org/web/20070929135850/http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=malegaonblasts&slug=Religious%20leaders%20pray%20for%20peace&id=92926&callid=1&category=National NDTV.com 29 September 2007 www.ndtv.comhttp://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20384569-1702,00.html National Religious leaders pray for peaceOctober 2026 medicmedic In particular, Muslims in the state of Gujarat demonstrated against Pakistan for its alleged involvement in the blasts.http://www.ibnlive.com/news/gujarat-muslims-hold-antipak-protests/21052-3.html Gujarat Muslims hold anti-Pak rally IBN Ibnlive.com 9 September 2008 28 September 2013 30 September 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070930160242/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/gujarat-muslims-hold-antipak-protests/21052-3.html dead US ambassador David Mulford said he was "shocked and saddened by the brutal terrorist bombings" and that the US stood "with India in its fight against terrorism". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5326730.stm BBC News Blasts kill 37 in India graveyard 8 September 2008 Investigations Initial arrests On 10 September, NDTV reported that investigators had identified the owner of one of the bicycles on which a bomb was planted.Breakthrough in India Blasts Probe Saudi Gazette July 2011 On the same day, police released sketches of two suspects wanted in connection with the bomb attacks. On 11 September, Maharashtra Director General of Police P. S. Pasricha said that the officers investigating the blasts had produced leads and expressed confidence that a breakthrough would be achieved soon.http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/11malegaon1.htm Cops gain vital leads 'Rediff.com' Rediff.com 28 September 2013 On 30 October, the first arrest was made of Noor-Ul-Huda, an activist of the Students Islamic Movement of India.Malegaon blasts: SIMI activist held http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/239612.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20081207004102/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/239612.cms 7 December 2008 The Times of India 30 October 2006 16 September 2006 The DGP of Mumbai said the two other suspects are Shabeer Batterywala and Raees Ahmad. On 6 November, it was reported that Batterywala is an operative of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the co-conspirator is Raees Ahmad of SIMI.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Police-arrest-Malegaon-blasts-conspirator/articleshow/334758.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20121104004503/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-06/india/27797262_1_malegaon-blasts-malegaon-case-anti-terrorism-squad 4 November 2012 Police arrest Malegaon blasts 'conspirator' 6 November 2006 The Times of India live 28 September 2013 Suspicions and releases The Maharashtra police initially suspected Bajrang Dal, the Lashkar-e-Toiba or the Jaish-e-Mohammed of involvement in the attacks. No evidence was released against any of these groups,Prafulla Marpakwar 10 September 2006 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-evidence-of-Bajrang-involvement/articleshow/1973793.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20121105055352/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-10/india/27794973_1_nanded-blast-malegaon-blasts-bajrang 5 November 2012 The Times of India No evidence of Bajrang involvement live 28 September 2013 though the police claimed on 13 October to have identified the perpetrators.http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=75502 https://archive.today/20120730170715/http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=75502 2012-07-30 Perpetrators of Malegaon Blasts identified Lashkar-e-Toiba has had contacts with the controversial Students Islamic Movement of India in the region before.https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/terrorist_outfits/lashkar_e_toiba.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20100125092952/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/terrorist_outfits/lashkar_e_toiba.htm Lashkar-e-Taiba | let | LET 25 January 2010 www.satp.org Police are also suspecting Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami in the attacks.9 September 2006 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Malegaon-blasts-Is-it-Bajrang-or-Lashkar/articleshow/1971372.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20120308234552/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-09/india/27825421_1_malegaon-blasts-serial-blasts-anti-terrorism-squad 8 March 2012 The Times of India Malegaon blasts: Is it Bajrang or Lashkar? live 28 September 2013 On 10 September, police sources said that the methods used are similar to attacks on mosques earlier in 2006 for which 16 Bajrang Dal activists, allegedly part of a "fringe group" of the organization, were arrested but not charged.http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1052080 DNA India Dnaindia.com 28 September 2013 Accused were Pragya Thakur and Abhinav Bharat.https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sadhvi-pragya-thakur-digvijaya-singh-bjp-bhopal-lok-sabha-elections-malegaon-case-ajmer-dargah-blast-5681180/ Explained: The case against BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Thakur 20 April 2019 The Indian Express en-IN 2019-04-29 July 2025 verdict by the special court in Mumbai acquitted all accused in the Malegaon blast case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit.2025-07-31 2008 Malegaon bomb blast: All 7 accused acquitted, court says prosecution failed to provide cogent and reliable evidence https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/2008-malegaon-bomb-blast-all-accused-acquitted-pragya-thakur-col-purohit-court-reliable-evidence-10160836/ 2025-07-31 The Indian Express en Malegaon has been the focus of communal tension for some time,October 2024 which spilled out into the open in 1984, 1992, and 2001, when there were large scale protests over the United States invasion of Afghanistan. Police had killed 12 Muslim protesters after a brief altercation with them.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5330832.stm BBC News Indian town seething with anger 9 September 2006 The Taliban regime in Afghanistan had enjoyed immense support from Muslims in Malegaon. In May 2006, police recovered a cache of RDX explosives and automatic rifles from the region based on information they said was provided by arrested extremist Islamists.https://www.aljazeera.com/ Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera www.aljazeera.comhttp://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/08/india.blast.reut/index.html Police Recover Cache of RDX explosives CNN The arrested were former members of the Students Islamic Movement of India.https://www.ndtv.com/ https://web.archive.org/web/20070926230208/http://www.ndtv.com/homepage/malegaon.asp NDTV.com 26 September 2007 www.ndtv.com In the September 2006 incident, police investigations have determined that the explosives contained in these bombings were "a cocktail of RDX, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil – the same mixture used in 7/11",https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Malegaon-7/11-Same-Lethal-cocktail-used/articleshow/1980270.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20121105055424/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-12/india/27800611_1_malegaon-blasts-p-k-jain-maharashtra-town 5 November 2012 The Times of India Malegaon, 7/11: Same Lethal cocktail used live 12 September 2006 referring to the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, a terrorist incident for which several Islamist groups are suspects. Since the investigation was still under way, Nasik Superintendent of Police Rajvardhan declined to give details, saying: "We can't say anything till we get reports from all the agencies".http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=73746 https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193055/http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=73746 Indian Express 27 September 2007 However, the Anti Terrorist Squad has prima facie ruled out the involvement of Hindu Nationalist groups like the Bajrang Dal in the Malegaon blasts citing two reasons: RDX is only available to Islamist outfits. Bajrang Dal activists so far have only used crude bombs, nothing as sophisticated as the ones in Malegaon.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Malegaon-7/11-Same-Lethal-cocktail-used/articleshow/1980270.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20121105055424/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-12/india/27800611_1_malegaon-blasts-p-k-jain-maharashtra-town 5 November 2012 Malegaon, 7/11: Same Lethal cocktail used 12 September 2006 The Times of India live 28 September 2013 Ajai Sahni, an intelligence analyst who tracks terrorist groups in South Asia, also said it was unlikely to be a Hindu group because they "lacked the organisation for such an attack". On 12 September 2006, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it was inappropriate to "rule out or rule in" the involvement of Hindu groups. "I think there should be a fair investigation which inspires confidence and brings out the truth and nothing but the truth without any pre-conceived notion. That has to be the objective".PM Not OK With 'Rule Out, Rule In' of Hindus Samachar July 2011 B. Raman,October 2024 in an op-ed published on 11 September, noted that "while it is too early to rule out the possibility of either Islamic or Hindu extremists as the perpetrators, there have been "attempts by some leaders of the Muslim community to create a divide between the community and the police by questioning the impartiality of the police and levelling other allegations against the investigating officers".http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/11raman.htm Terrorists make no distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims Rediff.com In.rediff.com 28 September 2013 As of 30 October 2006, the most recent arrests involved members of the Students Islamic Movement of India and suspicions are presently directed at them as, after the arrests, the police have claimed to be closer to solving the case. On 28 November 2006, Mumbai police stated that two Pakistani nationals were involved in the explosions. "We have successfully detected the Malegaon blasts case. We are, however, on the lookout for eight more suspects in the case," said DGP PS Pasricha. The Anti-Terrorism Squad probing into the case has already arrested eight suspects, including two booked in the 11 July Mumbai serial blasts, in connection with four explosions that rocked the town killing 31 people and injuring more than 200.http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/610189.cms The Times of India Police crack Malegaon serial blasts case, spot SIMI hand- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times 28 November 2006http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14339007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070930221248/http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14339007 2007-09-30 SIMI behind Malegaon blasts: Police Sify Three accused gave a confession about their involvement in the conspiracy, but soon after, two of them retracted before a magistrate, saying they had not made a voluntary disclosure. This was revealed to a special court by the accused themselves when they were produced before it for remand. The development assumes significance as under MCOCA, a confession does not have evidential value if it is not a voluntary and true disclosure. Seeking their remand, public prosecutor Raja Thakre said the accused had played a vital role in the conspiracy and investigations conducted by Anti-Terrorist Squad so far had revealed involvement of more persons who are yet to be arrested.http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/06malegaon.htm 3 confess in Malegaon blast case, 2 retract Rediff.com 31 December 2004 28 September 2013 On 16 November 2011, seven of the accused in the Malegaon blasts were released on bail after five years of detention in jail.Malegaon: Seven accused released on bail http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=390202&catid=36 The Statesman 16 November 2011 17 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120614103816/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=390202&catid=36 14 June 2012 Case handover In 2013, after taking over the case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) contradicted the ATS and CBI findings,https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west/story/malegaon-blast-case-nia-rubbishes-ats-cbi-fake-bomb-based-investigations-india-today-164162-2013-05-23 NIA rubbishes ATS-CBI's fake bomb-based investigations in 2006 Malegaon blast case India Today 24 May 2013 and arrested four persons, namely Lokesh Sharma, Dhan Singh, Manohar Singh and Rajendra Choudhary, all belonging to the Hindu right wing group Abhinav Bharat. On 22 May 2013 they were all chargesheeted.https://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/2006-malegaon-blasts-all-9-accused-discharged-by-mumbai-court_1879501.html 2006 Malegaon blast case: Mumbai court drops charges against nine accused 25 April 2016 Zee News On 25 April 2016, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court dismissed all charges against the eight Muslim men initially arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad in 2006. The men had spent five years in jail before being released on bail in 2011.Mehta Tejas Malegaon Blast: After 5 Years in Jail, Charges Dropped Against 8 Muslim Men http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/charges-dropped-against-8-muslim-men-accused-in-malegaon-blast-case-1399182 25 April 2016 NDTV 25 April 2016Nandgaonkar Satish Eight accused in 2006 Malegaon blasts case discharged https://www.thehindu.com/news/2006-Malegaon-blasts-case-accused-disharged/article60549167.ece 25 April 2016 The Hindu 25 April 2016 On 7 May 2024, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) planted RDX to frame Shrikant Purohit and many others, who were tortured to take names of Hindu leaders.2008 Malegaon blast trial: Accused Lt Col Purohit alleges torture by ATS https://www.deccanherald.com/india/2008-malegaon-blast-trial-accused-lt-col-purohit-alleges-torture-by-ats-3014383 2024-05-10 Deccan Herald en See also 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings 2008 Malegoan & Modasa bombing List of terrorist incidents, 2006 References External links 38 dead, over 180 injured as blasts rock Maharashtra town Thirty-five people killed in India blasts Blasts kill 37 in India graveyard 38 killed in Malegaon blasts Pictures of the blast Voice of America news article BBC news article Aljazeera news articleJanuary 2025 medicmedic Google news link Allegations by Indian Muslim Newspaper of "Corpse with fake beard found" Malegaon blast: ATS says Purohit main conspirator - Express India 7 accused in Malegaon case freed - Times Of India Maharashtra Category:21st-century mass murders in India Category:2006 mass murders Category:2006 building bombings Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2006 Category:2000s in Maharashtra Category:Crime in Maharashtra Category:Manmohan Singh administration Category:Malegaon Category:Hinduism-motivated violence in India Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India Category:September 2006 in India Category:Mosque bombings in India Category:Grave desecration Category:2006 in Islam Category:Attacks on mosques in the 2000s