Kathmandu, May 23, 2009: The act of brutality hit today in Nepal when the Assumption Church located at Dhobighat, Lalitpur was targeted with a bomb blast by an unknown group. The bomb exploded inside the Church at around 9:15 AM where more than 150 people were praying. With death tolling, two have been confirmed dead where more than a dozens are seriously injured. The names of the deceased are Celestina Joseph (15 years old student) and Pabitra Paitra, (30 years old housewife) who were declared dead by the Patan Hospital.
The injured have been admitted to various hospitals around the valley where the bomb blast was suspected to have been carried out by an upcoming terrorist group Terai Armed Nepal Defense Army. The group was alleged to have killed Father Joshn Prakash in Dharan, last year.
After the bomb attack, the situation in the Jawalakhel area is pretty tense where the police are controlling the situation.
With Nepal declared as a Secular, Federal Democratic Republic in 2008, this is the first time that such a place of social belief has been targeted. Though the country is going through turmoil politics, leadership and stability, the struggling forces are utilizing the opportunity to create stir by using violence where the people are bound to suffer the consequences.
By Shreedeep Rayamajhi