Dilsukhnagar Twin Blasts Complete Six Years

Six years ago on this day, two bomb blasts triggered by Indian Mujahideen terrorists in the busy Dilsukhnagar area killed 18 people and injuring 140, and sent shockwaves in the twin cities.

One bomb blast occurred at the Dilsukhnagar bus stand and another at a mirchi bajji centre near the Konark Theatre corner.

The blasts, triggered by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), went off almost simultaneously. The first IED exploded around 7 pm near the 107 bus stop, and the next one went off near A1 Mirchi Centre, a stone's throw away from the crowded bus stop.

Six years later, memories of the day continue to haunt many of the injured victims and the families of those who were killed and injured. Most feel that justice has continued to be elusive though five operatives of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) have been given death sentences in the case - in 2016 the special court for NIA cases had pronounced the sentences against the IM operatives, but prime accused Riyaz Bhatkal continues to be at large, and the sentences are yet to be executed.

While the victims deplore the delay in executing the sentences, the officials said that the operatives are still lodged in various prisons in the country as cases are pending against them in other blasts that took places in different cities, too.

Also, though the government had promised to bear the expenses for the treatment of the injured, a majority of them claim to have met or be continuing to meet the medical expenses on their own in the absence of any government follow-up on the issue. Members of the Bomb Blast Victims' Association paid tributes to the deceased at Konark theatre and lamented that they were not receiving any assistance from the State government.

L B Nagar MLA Sudheer Reddy also paid tributes to the deceased and raised slogans against Pakistan for harbouring terrorists. He demanded that the Centre eradicate terrorism on the country's soil by waging a war with the neighbouring country.