The Hindu : National : `Black day' observed in Malegaon; town peaceful

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Saturday, Sep 16, 2006
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`Black day' observed in Malegaon; town peaceful

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Malegaon observed Yaum-e-Siyah or `black day' on Friday, to protest against the four bomb blasts that claimed 31 lives and injured over 100 — mostly those participating in Friday namaz. The power loom town remained peaceful.

Over 30,000 people offered the Friday namaz at Bada Kabrastan (graveyard), the scene of three bomb blasts. The congregation was much larger than usual and comprised a large number of children.

According to Maulana Abdul Queum Kasuri, clerics recited peace messages in the town's 200 mosques. "They sought Allah's blessings for the dead and speedy recovery of the injured," he told The Hindu on phone.

The worshippers at the Kabrastan mosque came without their bags and bicycles. It is suspected that the attackers had planted bombs in the carrier racks of new bicycles and later placed them among the worshippers' cycles.

Tight vigil

Maintaining tight vigil, the police did not allow vendors to set up food stalls for worshippers en route to the Kabrastan. The Superintendent of Police (Nashik Rural), Rajwardhan, said all prayers passed off peacefully. Janata Dal (Secular) leader Nihal Ahmed gave the call to observe September 15, the first Friday after the terrorist attack, as Yaum-e-Siyah.

Both Hindus and Muslims wore black ribbons and hoisted black flags atop their houses. The police refused permission to hold protest meetings.

"A mountain of misery has crashed on Malegaon and we, both Muslims and Hindus, are sharing the grief," a local resident, Aziz Aijaj, said.

Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda visited the blast sites in Malegaon and consoled the families of the dead. After visiting the injured in hospitals, Mr. Gowda said no local person from either community was involved in the attack.

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