Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal
Kathmandu, 24 May, (Asiantribune.com): At least two persons were killed and 14 others injured Saturday morning when a pressure-cooker bomb went off inside a Roman Catholic church in Lalitpur, a district adjoining to capital city Kathmandu.
A little-known Hindu fundamentalist group, Nepal Defense Army, has owned up responsibility for the gory incident at the sacred site, according to police.
The armed outfit formed after the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly last year declared Nepal a secular state and abolished the 240-year-old institution of monarchy. It has been carrying violent activities in religious sites for what it said re-establishment of a Hindu kingdom in Nepal.
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 local time, leaving behind a bag.
Police investigation officials said the pressure-cooker bomb was found to have contained metal splinters and iron nails.
The deceased in the fateful 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 in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
The condition of the four of the injured is critical. Doctors fear that many of the injured may have lost their hearing or eyesight.
The Church of the Assumption is the first and the biggest Roman Catholic Church in Nepal. A large number of expatriates visit the church every Sunday.
Police have beefed up security around mosques and churches in Kathmandu Valley.
Official at the Church said the same Hindu fundamentalist group was behind the killing of Father John Prakash in Morang, a district lying in the eastern part of the country, on July 1, 2008.
Meanwhile, religious leaders have urged people from all religious communities 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, 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.
- Asian Tribune -
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