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{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
The '''Ajmer Dargah bombing''' (also called the '''Ajmer Sharif blast''') occurred on 11 October 2007, in the courtyard of [[Sufi]] saint [[Moinuddin Chishti]] in [[Ajmer]], Rajasthan, India, after the [[Iftar]] period had started. On 22 March 2017 a Special NIA Court convicted three ex-[[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] pracharaks Devendra Gupta, Bhavesh Patel and Sunil Joshi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ajmer-blast-case-two-rss-pracharaks-sentenced-life-imprisonment-4580944/|title=Ajmer blast case: Two 'RSS pracharaks' sentenced life imprisonment}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1362808/india-jails-hindu-radicals-life-ajmer-sharif-shrine-blast/|title=India jails Hindu radicals for life over Ajmer Sharif shrine blast}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2018-08-20|title=Ajmer blasts case: Life term for two 'ex-RSS pracharaks'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ajmer-blast-case-two-rss-pracharaks-sentenced-life-imprisonment-4580944/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> Sunil Joshi and Devendra Gupta were found guilty on charges of conspiracy and Bhavesh Bhai Patel was found guilty of planting the explosive on the blast site. Gupta and Patel were awarded life imprisonment.<ref name=":0" /> Sunil Joshi had been found shot dead in mysterious circumstances soon after the blast in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-24|title=What is the Ajmer Dargah blast case?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-the-ajmer-dargah-blast-case-4580300/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
The '''Ajmer Dargah bombing''' (also called the '''Ajmer Sharif blast''') occurred on 11 October 2007, in the courtyard of [[Sufi]] saint [[Moinuddin Chishti]] in [[Ajmer]], Rajasthan, India, after the [[Iftar]] period had started. On 22 March 2017 a Special NIA Court convicted three ex-[[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] pracharaks Devendra Gupta, Bhavesh Patel and Sunil Joshi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ajmer-blast-case-two-rss-pracharaks-sentenced-life-imprisonment-4580944/|title=Ajmer blast case: Two 'RSS pracharaks' sentenced life imprisonment}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1362808/india-jails-hindu-radicals-life-ajmer-sharif-shrine-blast/|title=India jails Hindu radicals for life over Ajmer Sharif shrine blast}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2018-08-20|title=Ajmer blasts case: Life term for two 'ex-RSS pracharaks'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ajmer-blast-case-two-rss-pracharaks-sentenced-life-imprisonment-4580944/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> Sunil Joshi and Devendra Gupta were found guilty on charges of conspiracy and Bhavesh Bhai Patel was found guilty of planting the explosive on the blast site. Gupta and Patel were awarded life imprisonment.<ref name=":0" /> Sunil Joshi had been found shot dead in mysterious circumstances soon after the blast in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-24|title=What is the Ajmer Dargah blast case?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-the-ajmer-dargah-blast-case-4580300/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
==Attack==
==Attack==
At 6.12&nbsp;pm on 11 October 2007, an explosion occurred near a courtyard outside the [[Dargah]] of [[Moinuddin Chishti|Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti]] in Ajmer.<ref name="Urban-Terrorism-2009">{{cite book|last=Asthana|last2=Nirmal|title=Urban Terrorism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8EqWnqdsgZMC&pg=PA188&dq=Ajmer|page=188|year=2009}}</ref> Evening prayers had just concluded before the end of the fasting month of [[Ramadan]] and a crowd had gathered outside the shrine to end their [[fasting|fast]].<ref name="Reuters-20071011">{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-29954920071011|title=Bomb kills 2 at Ajmer Sharif dargah|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=11 October 2007|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref> The bomb had been concealed in a [[tiffin carrier]], which workers typically used to store their lunch.<ref name="DNA-20071011">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_blast-at-ajmer-dargah-2-dead_1126990|title=Blast at Ajmer Dargah, 5 dead|date=11 October 2007|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=12 January 2011|location=India}}</ref> The blast killed 3<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/2007-ajmer-dargah-blast-accused-held-in-gujarat-s-bharuch-after-11-years/story-yshbmRPrq81WIQ4BKvcRBL.html|title=2007 Ajmer dargah blast accused held in Gujarat’s Bharuch after 11 years|date=2018-11-25|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-11-26|language=en}}</ref> people and injured 17 others.<ref name="Outlook-20100719">{{cite news|last=Koppikar|first=Smruti|last2=Dasgupta|first2=Debarshi|last3=Hasan|first3=Snigdha|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266145|title=The Mirror Explodes|journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|location=India|date=19 July 2010|access-date=12 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129100253/http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266145|archive-date=29 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Independent-20110112">{{cite news|last=Buncombe|first=Andrew|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/hindu-holy-man-reveals-truth-of-terror-attacks-blamed-on-muslims-2182178.html|title=Hindu holy man reveals truth of terror attacks blamed on Muslims|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location=London|date=12 January 2011|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref> Remnants of a mobile phone were retrieved from the site.<ref name="Urban-Terrorism-2009" /> Lalit Maheswari of the Ajmer police stated, "We have recovered some mobile instruments, so we think some sophisticated device was used ...".<ref name="Reuters-20071011" />
At 6.12&nbsp;pm on 11 October 2007, an explosion occurred near a courtyard outside the [[Dargah]] of [[Moinuddin Chishti|Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti]] in Ajmer.<ref name="Urban-Terrorism-2009">{{cite book|last=Asthana|last2=Nirmal|title=Urban Terrorism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8EqWnqdsgZMC&pg=PA188&dq=Ajmer|page=188|year=2009}}</ref> Evening prayers had just concluded before the end of the fasting month of [[Ramadan]] and a crowd had gathered outside the shrine to end their [[fasting|fast]].<ref name="Reuters-20071011">{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-29954920071011|title=Bomb kills 2 at Ajmer Sharif dargah|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=11 October 2007|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref> The bomb had been concealed in a [[tiffin carrier]], which workers typically used to store their lunch.<ref name="DNA-20071011">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_blast-at-ajmer-dargah-2-dead_1126990|title=Blast at Ajmer Dargah, 5 dead|date=11 October 2007|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=12 January 2011|location=India}}</ref> The blast killed 3<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/2007-ajmer-dargah-blast-accused-held-in-gujarat-s-bharuch-after-11-years/story-yshbmRPrq81WIQ4BKvcRBL.html|title=2007 Ajmer dargah blast accused held in Gujarat’s Bharuch after 11 years|date=2018-11-25|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-11-26|language=en}}</ref> people and injured 17 others.<ref name="Outlook-20100719">{{cite news|last=Koppikar|first=Smruti|last2=Dasgupta|first2=Debarshi|last3=Hasan|first3=Snigdha|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266145|title=The Mirror Explodes|journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|location=India|date=19 July 2010|access-date=12 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129100253/http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266145|archive-date=29 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Independent-20110112">{{cite news|last=Buncombe|first=Andrew|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/hindu-holy-man-reveals-truth-of-terror-attacks-blamed-on-muslims-2182178.html|title=Hindu holy man reveals truth of terror attacks blamed on Muslims|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location=London|date=12 January 2011|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref> Remnants of a mobile phone were retrieved from the site.<ref name="Urban-Terrorism-2009" /> Lalit Maheswari of the Ajmer police stated, "We have recovered some mobile instruments, so we think some sophisticated device was used ...".<ref name="Reuters-20071011" />
===Investigations===
===Investigations===
The [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]] initially stated that the blast could have been the responsibility of Pakistan-based [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]].<ref name="DNA-20071011" /> The media had also initially characterized the attack as part of a conflict between [[Salafi|ultra-conservative]] Islamic extremists against the [[Sufi|Sufi-derived]] Islamic traditions popular in India.<ref name="Urban-Terrorism-2009" />
The [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]] initially stated that the blast could have been the responsibility of Pakistan-based [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]].<ref name="DNA-20071011" /> The media had also initially characterized the attack as part of a conflict between [[Salafi|ultra-conservative]] Islamic extremists against the [[Sufi|Sufi-derived]] Islamic traditions popular in India.<ref name="Urban-Terrorism-2009" />
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NIA also filed another charge sheet against [[Swami Aseemanand]], whose confession helped the agency open [[Hyderabad]]'s [[Mecca Masjid bombing|Mecca Masjid blast]] and [[2006 Malegaon bombings|Malegaon 2006 blast]] cases, along with Sandeep Dangae, Bhawesh Patel, Mehul, Suresh Bhai, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sunil Joshi and Bharat Bhai. According to the charge sheet filed, [[Swami Aseemanand]] conceived the plan to avenge Islamic attacks on Hindu temples.<ref name="ToI-201110109-summon">{{cite news|last=Sharma|first=Nitesh Kumar|date=9 January 2011|title=ATS to summon Indresh after Aseemanand's statement|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/jaipur/28354234_1_rajasthan-ats-ajmer-blast-jagendra-kumar-jain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104101512/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/jaipur/28354234_1_rajasthan-ats-ajmer-blast-jagendra-kumar-jain|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="Reuters-20071011" /><ref name="Independent-20110112" />
NIA also filed another charge sheet against [[Swami Aseemanand]], whose confession helped the agency open [[Hyderabad]]'s [[Mecca Masjid bombing|Mecca Masjid blast]] and [[2006 Malegaon bombings|Malegaon 2006 blast]] cases, along with Sandeep Dangae, Bhawesh Patel, Mehul, Suresh Bhai, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sunil Joshi and Bharat Bhai. According to the charge sheet filed, [[Swami Aseemanand]] conceived the plan to avenge Islamic attacks on Hindu temples.<ref name="ToI-201110109-summon">{{cite news|last=Sharma|first=Nitesh Kumar|date=9 January 2011|title=ATS to summon Indresh after Aseemanand's statement|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/jaipur/28354234_1_rajasthan-ats-ajmer-blast-jagendra-kumar-jain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104101512/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/jaipur/28354234_1_rajasthan-ats-ajmer-blast-jagendra-kumar-jain|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="Reuters-20071011" /><ref name="Independent-20110112" />


In 2011, the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] started investigating the Hindutva organisation, [[Abhinav Bharat]] on the basis of Aseemanands confession.<ref name="ToI-201110109-mole">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/india/28361088_1_rss-leader-indresh-kumar-swami-aseemanand-naba-kumar-sarkar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104110933/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/india/28361088_1_rss-leader-indresh-kumar-swami-aseemanand-naba-kumar-sarkar|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|title=Co-conspirators saw RSS man as ISI mole|last=Mohan|first=Vishwa|date=9 January 2011|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=14 January 2011}}</ref> [[Swami Aseemanand]]'s named the co-founder of the far right Hindu organisation, [[Abhinav Bharat]],  
In 2011, the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] started investigating the Hindutva organisation, [[Abhinav Bharat]] on the basis of Aseemanands confession.<ref name="ToI-201110109-mole">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/india/28361088_1_rss-leader-indresh-kumar-swami-aseemanand-naba-kumar-sarkar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104110933/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/india/28361088_1_rss-leader-indresh-kumar-swami-aseemanand-naba-kumar-sarkar|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|title=Co-conspirators saw RSS man as ISI mole|last=Mohan|first=Vishwa|date=9 January 2011|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=14 January 2011}}</ref> [[Swami Aseemanand]]'s named the co-founder of the far right Hindu organisation, [[Abhinav Bharat]],
[[Prasad Shrikant Purohit]] and senior [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] leader Indresh Kumar among others as co-conspirators. The Swami in his statement also claimed that Sunil Joshi was the operational man and carried out the blast in Ajmer with the help of two Muslim boys from the [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] of Pakistan, who were given to him by Indresh Kumar.<ref name="ToI-201110109-mole" />
[[Prasad Shrikant Purohit]] and senior [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] leader Indresh Kumar among others as co-conspirators. The Swami in his statement also claimed that Sunil Joshi was the operational man and carried out the blast in Ajmer with the help of two Muslim boys from the [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] of Pakistan, who were given to him by Indresh Kumar.<ref name="ToI-201110109-mole" />
Another individual accused in the attack was Bharat Bhai alias Bharat Rateshwar, who is also accused of financing several other [[Saffron Terror|Hindutva terrorist]] attacks such the [[Mecca Masjid blast]] and the [[2007 Samjhauta Express bombings]]. He was accused of funding and planning terrorist attacks on Muslim to avenge the attacks on Hindus in India.<ref>http://news.oneindia.in/2011/02/06/a-link-in-ajmer-mecca-masjid-samjhauta-blast-aid0101.html</ref>
==Conviction==
==Conviction==
On 8 March 2017, a special [[National Investigation Agency]] (NIA) court in Jaipur found guilty three ex-RSS pracharaks, Bhavesh Patel, Devendra Gupta, and Sunil Joshi (who was murdered in 2007).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=acquittedconvicted>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2007-ajmer-blast-aseemanand-9-others-acquitted-3-convicted-by-nia-court/articleshow/57537140.cms|title=2007 Ajmer blast: Aseemanand and others acquitted, 3 convicted, by NIA court}}</ref><ref name=HindustanTimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/2007-ajmer-blast-case-swami-aseemanand-among-two-acquitted-three-people-convicted/story-djXpxsy547RAVFTIphSTzN.html|title=2007 Ajmer blast case: Swami Aseemanand acquitted, three people convicted}}</ref> Both Patel and Gupta were awarded life imprisonments and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=News|first=TA|title=Ajmer Blast: Former RSS Pracharak Sunil Joshi and two others convicted - Truth Arrived|url=http://www.trutharrived.com/2017/03/ajmer-blast-former-rss-pracharak-sunil.html|access-date=2017-03-09|website=trutharrived.com|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Swami Aseemanand]] and 6 other accused were acquitted, giving them the "benefit of doubt".<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Swami Aseemanand acquitted in Ajmer blast case as NIA convicts three|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ajmer-blast-case-nia-court-swami-aseemanand-acquited-4560372/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Indian court makes rare conviction against Hindu radicals over 2007 Ajmer shrine attack|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1319208/indian-court-makes-rare-conviction-against-hindu-radicals-over-2007-ajmer-shrine-attack}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-04-17|title=Acquitted in two cases, Aseemanand still faces Samjhauta case trial|language=en|work=The News Minute|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/acquitted-two-cases-aseemanand-still-faces-samjhauta-case-trial-79690|access-date=2020-07-14}}</ref> At the same time, the court questioned the NIA on its clean chit to two of the other accused, Ramesh Gohil and Amit, as well as "suspicious persons" such as the senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar and [[Pragya Singh Thakur]] stating that it could not be done without invoking appropriate sections of CrPC.<ref name=":0" />[http://www.trutharrived.com/2017/03/ajmer-blast-former-rss-pracharak-sunil.html] [[Pragya Singh Thakur]] later went on to be elected as [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha]] from [[Bhopal]] [[Swami Aseemanand|in May 2019.]]
On 8 March 2017, a special [[National Investigation Agency]] (NIA) court in Jaipur found guilty three ex-RSS pracharaks, Bhavesh Patel, Devendra Gupta, and Sunil Joshi (who was murdered in 2007).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=acquittedconvicted>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2007-ajmer-blast-aseemanand-9-others-acquitted-3-convicted-by-nia-court/articleshow/57537140.cms|title=2007 Ajmer blast: Aseemanand and others acquitted, 3 convicted, by NIA court}}</ref><ref name=HindustanTimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/2007-ajmer-blast-case-swami-aseemanand-among-two-acquitted-three-people-convicted/story-djXpxsy547RAVFTIphSTzN.html|title=2007 Ajmer blast case: Swami Aseemanand acquitted, three people convicted}}</ref> Both Patel and Gupta were awarded life imprisonments and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=News|first=TA|title=Ajmer Blast: Former RSS Pracharak Sunil Joshi and two others convicted - Truth Arrived|url=http://www.trutharrived.com/2017/03/ajmer-blast-former-rss-pracharak-sunil.html|access-date=2017-03-09|website=trutharrived.com|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Swami Aseemanand]] and 6 other accused were acquitted, giving them the "benefit of doubt".<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Swami Aseemanand acquitted in Ajmer blast case as NIA convicts three|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ajmer-blast-case-nia-court-swami-aseemanand-acquited-4560372/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Indian court makes rare conviction against Hindu radicals over 2007 Ajmer shrine attack|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1319208/indian-court-makes-rare-conviction-against-hindu-radicals-over-2007-ajmer-shrine-attack}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-04-17|title=Acquitted in two cases, Aseemanand still faces Samjhauta case trial|language=en|work=The News Minute|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/acquitted-two-cases-aseemanand-still-faces-samjhauta-case-trial-79690|access-date=2020-07-14}}</ref> At the same time, the court questioned the NIA on its clean chit to two of the other accused, Ramesh Gohil and Amit, as well as "suspicious persons" such as the senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar and [[Pragya Singh Thakur]] stating that it could not be done without invoking appropriate sections of CrPC.<ref name=":0" />[http://www.trutharrived.com/2017/03/ajmer-blast-former-rss-pracharak-sunil.html] [[Pragya Singh Thakur]] later went on to be elected as [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha]] from [[Bhopal]] [[Swami Aseemanand|in May 2019.]]
==See also==
==See also==
*[[2006 Malegaon blasts]]
*[[2006 Malegaon blasts]]
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*[[List of terrorist incidents, 2007]]
*[[List of terrorist incidents, 2007]]
*[[Saffron Terror]]
*[[Saffron Terror]]
==References==
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last=Asthana|first=N. C.|last2=Nirmal|first2=A.|title=Urban Terrorism : Myths And Realities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8EqWnqdsgZMC&pg=PA188&dq=Ajmer|page=188|publisher=Pointer|location=Jaipur|year=2009|isbn=978-81-7132-598-6|oclc=435375838}}
*{{cite book|last=Asthana|first=N. C.|last2=Nirmal|first2=A.|title=Urban Terrorism : Myths And Realities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8EqWnqdsgZMC&pg=PA188&dq=Ajmer|page=188|publisher=Pointer|location=Jaipur|year=2009|isbn=978-81-7132-598-6|oclc=435375838}}
== External links ==
== External links ==
*[https://swap.stanford.edu/20110604132655/http%3A//www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename%3DNe150111Coverstory.asp In the words of a zealot…]. ''[[Tehelka]]''. 15 January 2011.
*[https://swap.stanford.edu/20110604132655/http%3A//www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename%3DNe150111Coverstory.asp In the words of a zealot…]. ''[[Tehelka]]''. 15 January 2011.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130927121847/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ajmer-blast-accused-claims-shinde-forced-him-to-name-rss-chief-bhagwat/424426-3-239.html Ajmer blast accused claims Shinde forced him to name RSS chief Bhagwat]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130927121847/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ajmer-blast-accused-claims-shinde-forced-him-to-name-rss-chief-bhagwat/424426-3-239.html Ajmer blast accused claims Shinde forced him to name RSS chief Bhagwat]
[[Category:History of Ajmer]]
[[Category:History of Ajmer]]
[[Category:Hinduism-motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism-motivated violence in India]]

Revision as of 03:54, 12 February 2022

Ajmer Sharif Dargah bombing
Dargah of Moinuddin Chishti, the site of the attack.
Ajmer Sharif is located in Rajasthan
Ajmer Sharif
Ajmer Sharif
Ajmer Sharif (Rajasthan)
LocationAjmer, Rajasthan, India
26°27′25″N 74°37′40″E / 26.45694°N 74.62778°E / 26.45694; 74.62778
Date11 October 2007
18:12 IST (UTC+5.30)
TargetDargah of Moinuddin Chishti[1]
Attack type
Bomb in a Tiffin carrier[2]
Deaths3
Injured17[2]

The Ajmer Dargah bombing (also called the Ajmer Sharif blast) occurred on 11 October 2007, in the courtyard of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, after the Iftar period had started. On 22 March 2017 a Special NIA Court convicted three ex-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharaks Devendra Gupta, Bhavesh Patel and Sunil Joshi.[3][4][5] Sunil Joshi and Devendra Gupta were found guilty on charges of conspiracy and Bhavesh Bhai Patel was found guilty of planting the explosive on the blast site. Gupta and Patel were awarded life imprisonment.[5] Sunil Joshi had been found shot dead in mysterious circumstances soon after the blast in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.[6]

Attack

At 6.12 pm on 11 October 2007, an explosion occurred near a courtyard outside the Dargah of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer.[7] Evening prayers had just concluded before the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and a crowd had gathered outside the shrine to end their fast.[1] The bomb had been concealed in a tiffin carrier, which workers typically used to store their lunch.[2] The blast killed 3[8] people and injured 17 others.[9][10] Remnants of a mobile phone were retrieved from the site.[7] Lalit Maheswari of the Ajmer police stated, "We have recovered some mobile instruments, so we think some sophisticated device was used ...".[1]

Investigations

The Ministry of Home Affairs (India) initially stated that the blast could have been the responsibility of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.[2] The media had also initially characterized the attack as part of a conflict between ultra-conservative Islamic extremists against the Sufi-derived Islamic traditions popular in India.[7]

The focus of investigation shifted to Hindu groups when Swami Aseemanand was arrested in the Mecca Masjid blast case in Dec 2010.

On 22 October 2010, five suspects, who had been arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of India, were charged with conspiracy in connection to the bombing. Four of the five suspects were connected to the Hindu nationalist organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.[11]

According to sources, Patel was part of the five-member group that planted the bomb at Ajmer Dargah. While two planters 'Harshad Solanki and Mukesh Vasani' have already been charge sheeted, Patel was part of a back-up team, including Suresh Nair and Mehul alias Mafat Bhai, which went to the site as a contingency plan to take charge of the affairs in case the two planters failed to place the bomb or developed cold feet.

On 10 October 2007, Suresh Nair, Mehul and Bhavesh Patel took a consignment of explosives from Sunil Joshi, who was later found murdered under mysterious circumstances in Godhra. They reached Vadodara on the same day and boarded a private bus for Udaipur. At Ajmer, however, the bomb was given to Solanki and Vasani planted it. Patel was also accused of having been involved in the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, but was acquitted by the court.

NIA also filed another charge sheet against Swami Aseemanand, whose confession helped the agency open Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid blast and Malegaon 2006 blast cases, along with Sandeep Dangae, Bhawesh Patel, Mehul, Suresh Bhai, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sunil Joshi and Bharat Bhai. According to the charge sheet filed, Swami Aseemanand conceived the plan to avenge Islamic attacks on Hindu temples.[12][1][10]

In 2011, the Central Bureau of Investigation started investigating the Hindutva organisation, Abhinav Bharat on the basis of Aseemanands confession.[13] Swami Aseemanand's named the co-founder of the far right Hindu organisation, Abhinav Bharat, Prasad Shrikant Purohit and senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Indresh Kumar among others as co-conspirators. The Swami in his statement also claimed that Sunil Joshi was the operational man and carried out the blast in Ajmer with the help of two Muslim boys from the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan, who were given to him by Indresh Kumar.[13]

Conviction

On 8 March 2017, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jaipur found guilty three ex-RSS pracharaks, Bhavesh Patel, Devendra Gupta, and Sunil Joshi (who was murdered in 2007).[5][14][15] Both Patel and Gupta were awarded life imprisonments and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.[5][16] Swami Aseemanand and 6 other accused were acquitted, giving them the "benefit of doubt".[5][17][18][19] At the same time, the court questioned the NIA on its clean chit to two of the other accused, Ramesh Gohil and Amit, as well as "suspicious persons" such as the senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar and Pragya Singh Thakur stating that it could not be done without invoking appropriate sections of CrPC.[5][1] Pragya Singh Thakur later went on to be elected as Member of parliament, Lok Sabha from Bhopal in May 2019.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Bomb kills 2 at Ajmer Sharif dargah". Reuters. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Blast at Ajmer Dargah, 5 dead". Daily News and Analysis. India. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Ajmer blast case: Two 'RSS pracharaks' sentenced life imprisonment".
  4. ↑ "India jails Hindu radicals for life over Ajmer Sharif shrine blast".
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Ajmer blasts case: Life term for two 'ex-RSS pracharaks'". The Indian Express. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "What is the Ajmer Dargah blast case?". The Indian Express. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Asthana; Nirmal (2009). Urban Terrorism. p. 188.
  8. ↑ "2007 Ajmer dargah blast accused held in Gujarat's Bharuch after 11 years". Hindustan Times. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Koppikar, Smruti; Dasgupta, Debarshi; Hasan, Snigdha (19 July 2010). "The Mirror Explodes". Outlook. India. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Buncombe, Andrew (12 January 2011). "Hindu holy man reveals truth of terror attacks blamed on Muslims". The Independent. London. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Four of five Ajmer blast accused have RSS links: ATS". The Indian Express. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  12. ↑ Sharma, Nitesh Kumar (9 January 2011). "ATS to summon Indresh after Aseemanand's statement". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Mohan, Vishwa (9 January 2011). "Co-conspirators saw RSS man as ISI mole". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  14. ↑ "2007 Ajmer blast: Aseemanand and others acquitted, 3 convicted, by NIA court".
  15. ↑ "2007 Ajmer blast case: Swami Aseemanand acquitted, three people convicted".
  16. ↑ News, TA. "Ajmer Blast: Former RSS Pracharak Sunil Joshi and two others convicted - Truth Arrived". trutharrived.com. Retrieved 9 March 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  17. ↑ "Swami Aseemanand acquitted in Ajmer blast case as NIA convicts three".
  18. ↑ "Indian court makes rare conviction against Hindu radicals over 2007 Ajmer shrine attack".
  19. ↑ "Acquitted in two cases, Aseemanand still faces Samjhauta case trial". The News Minute. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

Further reading

External links

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