Church condemn blasts in two states

Church leaders have condemned a series of 21 bomb blasts that killed over 50 and injured 145 in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. The explosions followed eight smaller bombings the previous day that left one person dead and 12 injured in Bangalore, Karnataka.

The Church of North India (CNI) synod in its statement condemned the "dastardly" act of terror and demanded that united action from the ruling and opposition parties both at the centre and the state be taken in dealing with terrorism.

“The political parties should stop the blame game and come together keeping aside their differences to find a solution to the terror menace let loose by some outfits in the name of religion in the country”, said The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, CNI.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has also appealed to the "people and the authorities to do everything possible to restore normal life of those affected by these unfortunate incidents."

In Bangalore, Archbishop Bernard Moras said, "Terrorism in subtle forms seems to be spreading contagiously like a disease from state to state. It must be contained and arrested with immediacy before it spreads further."

According to sources, the low intensity bombs planted by the "Indian Mujahideen" were carried out in the name of religion and to create panic among people.

"In the name of Allah the Indian Mujahideen strike again! Do whatever you can, within 5 minutes from now, feel the terror of Death!" said an e–mail from the group sent to several Indian television stations minutes before the blasts began.

Two months ago, over 60 people were killed and 100 injured when Islamic extremists placed nine bombs on bicycles in Jaipur. It was the nation’s deadliest attack in more than a year.

The U.S. has condemned the ``vicious terror attacks in Bangalore and Ahmedabad'' and extended its ``condolences to victims of these senseless attacks and to their families,'' the PTI said.