: At least two persons were killed and 14 others injured Saturday morning when a pressure-cooker bomb went off inside a Catholic church at Dhobighat, Lalitpur, according to police.
A little-known Hindu fundamentalist group, Nepal Defense Army, has owned up responsibility for the gory incident at the sacred site.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion at the Church of the Assumption occurred when a congregation of over 300 was about to start Saturday mass, and just a few minutes after an unidentified woman exited the prayer hall at about 9:15 a.m, leaving behind a bag.
Prabin Tandukar, who was inside the prayer hall at the time of the explosion, said there were two big bangs. “Initially, we thought the electric lights had gone off,†he said recalling the harrowing incident. “But we realized that it was a bomb when we saw a number of people maimed or injured.â€
The deceased in the incident have been identified as Celeste Joseph, 15, and Deepa Patrick, in her early 20´s. Both of them were from Patna, India and had been living at Dhalku, Kathmandu. Joseph was a Grade X student at St Mary´s School, Jawalakhel. The husband of Deepa, the other slain in the blast, also sustained injuries, according to police.
Joseph died on the way to the hospital. Likewise, Patrick died while undergoing treatment at Patan Hospital.
Doctors fear that many of the injured may have lost their hearing or eyesight.
While eight of the injured are undergoing treatment at Patan Hospital, five others are at Alka Hospital, Jawalakhel. Likewise, one 10-year-old child has been referred to Bir Hospital from Patan for further treatment. Six of the injured are in critical condition, a hospital source said. Three of the injured have been discharged from hospital after treatment.
The explosion shattered reinforced glass on the roof of the church, besides causing minor physical damage inside the prayer hall.
The Church of the Assumption is the first and the biggest Catholic Church in Nepal. A large number of expatriates visit the church every Sunday.
Nepal Police chief Ramesh Chand Thakuri, other senior police officials and various religious leaders visited the church following the incident. Police have seized bomb remnants and a some pamphlets of the Nepal Defense Army (NDA) left at the incident site, for necessary investigations. Investigation officials said the pressure-cooker bomb was found to have contained metal splinters and iron nails.
Metropolitan Police Crime Division, Hanumandhoka has started investigations into the incident under the supervision of Police Headquarters.
Father Bogati of the Assumption Church said they had not received any apparent threats from any party lately. However, an unidentified group had warned the church over the phone some six month ago against conducting church activities.
Bogati said the NDA, which claimed responsibility for the bomb blast, was also behind the killing of Father John Prakash at Don Bosco School in Sirsiya, Morang, on July 1, 2008.
Meanwhile, police have beefed up security around mosques and churches in the Valley.
What is NDA?
One Ram Prasad Mainali of Sarlahi district formed the NDA after the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly last year declared Nepal a secular state and abolished the 240-year-old institution of monarchy. The armed outfit claims that it is fighting for the re-establishment of a Hindu kingdom in Nepal.
The group detonated bombs at a mosque and a church in Biratnagar, besides carrying out bomb explosions in various parts of the capital. Police in Sarlahi and Kathmandu had initiated separate legal cases against Mainali for illegal possession of arms and ammunition. He walked out of prison after serving jail terms and paying fines.
Religious leaders urge restraint
Leaders of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities have urged everyone to exercise restraint over the incident.
The appeal comes in the wake of fears that the incident would pose a threat to the religious harmony that has obtained for so long in the country.
Chairman of World Hindu Federation Nepal chapter, Damodar Guatam, has denounced the attack. “I urge all to exercise restraint and not to be involved in activities that affect the sentiments of people belonging to other religions”.
Nazarul Hassan, President of Islamic Association, Nepal, claimed that the incident was aimed at disturbing religious harmony in the country. He urged the government to take necessary measures not to let similar incidents occur in future.
Those killed in the incident
1. Deepa Patrick, 22, of Patna, India, recently residing in Dhalku, Kathmandu
2. Celeste Joseph, 15, also of Patna and recently residing in Dhalku
List of injured
1. Father Rakesh, 28, of Patna, India
2. Annie Amatya, 13, Patandhoka, Lalitpur
3. Manisha Shakya, 19, Pulchowk, Lalitpur
4. Kanchhi Tamang, 45, Patandhoka, Laliptur
5. Renuka Thakuri, 50, Dhobighat, Lalitpur (already discharged)
6. Rabi Shrestha,10, Morang, currently residing at Gwarko, Lalitpur (later referred to Bir Hospital)
7. Sweety Singh,17, Patna, India, currently residing in Dhalku, Kathmandu
8. Munna Singh,21, of Patna, India, currently residing in Dhalku
9. Binaya Patrick,21, Patna, India, currently residing in Dhalku
10. Buddha Laxmi Joseph, 21, Patna, India, currently residing in Dhalku,
11. Shyam Kumar Rai, 30, Morang, currently residing in Pulchowk, Lalitpur
12. Reena Tamang,15, Thapathali, Kathmandu (already discharged)
13. Roji Singh,15, Patna, India, currently residing in Dhalku, Kathmandu (already discharged)
14.