ASIA/INDIA – Attack in Delhi, arrests in Kashmir; Bishops: unity in the fight against terrorism

New Delhi – Indian police have arrested several suspects in Kashmir in connection with the attack in New Delhi, where a car bomb exploded near the historic ‘Red Fort’ on November 10, killing eight people and injuring others. Authorities have opened a terrorism investigation, a measure that gives investigating authorities greater powers of arrest or detention.
At least five people have been arrested in the Pulwama district of southern Kashmir. Police have also dismantled “a suspected terrorist cell” operating in Faridabad, on the outskirts of New Delhi, arresting seven more militants and confiscating weapons along with a large quantity of materials used to manufacture explosives.
According to Indian media, investigators are gathering evidence to link tensions in Kashmir to the Delhi attack, which struck a site of high symbolic value: the Red Fort, a 17th-century monument and the setting for speeches given by Indian prime ministers every August 15, Independence Day.
It should be noted that another attack occurred on November 11 in Pakistan, outside a court in Islamabad. The succession of these two incidents has increased political tension between India and Pakistan, with both sides accusing each other of involvement or complicity in the attacks.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India issued a statement expressing its “deep sorrow at the deaths of innocent people and for the injured,” inviting the faithful “to keep vigil and pray.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are experiencing immense pain at this time. We also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the statement reads. The bishops are urging citizens throughout the country to “remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police without delay,” emphasizing the need for national unity in the fight against terrorism. They are also asking parish priests to “inform the competent authorities about any suspicious activity or abandoned objects in or near church premises.”
“Let us remain united as one community; let us maintain peace and work together to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens. Let us continue to pray for peace and security in our beloved nation,” the Bishops’ Conference concludes.

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