Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Here's what I've seen on the internet: (read till the very bottom of the e-mail to see ISKCON GBC Communications Minister Anuttama Prabhu's statement) You can find more news reports by searching for "Manipur, ISKCON" at www.google.com ========================================================================== http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1899067.cms Manipur Iskcon temple attacked, 4 dead K Sarojkumar Sharma [ 17 Aug, 2006 0027hrs IST - TIMES NEWS NETWORK ] IMPHAL: Janmashtami celebrations in Manipur turned bloody on Wednesday when a grenade was tossed into the Iskcon temple crowded with more than 20,000 devotees. The blast left at least four devotees dead and 40 others injured, including Iskcon international director Damodara Swami, police said. A woman and a child who came to the temple to offer Janmasthami prayers were among those killed. Four foreigners, two of them Americans and a Swiss national, were among the wounded, said additional SP (Imphal) Radheyshyam Singh. He said the identity of one foreigner could not be immediately ascertained since all the injured had been rushed to different hospitals. Police said suspected militants hurled a grenade at a mandap inside the temple when the classical Manipuri Raas Leela dance was being performed as part of Janmashtami celebrations. The grenade was hurled at the centre of the mandap where Damodara Swami was sitting. Of those injured, the condition of at least four was critical. At least 10 children were hurt, most by shrapnel and splinters that tore through their arms and legs. Organisers estimated about 20, 0000 devotees had gathered on Wednesday evening for Janmashtami, one of the biggest religious events in Manipur, where most Hindus were Krishna worshippers. The Iskcon temple is one of the major shrines in Imphal valley which is predominantly inhabited by Vashnavite Manipuris. One of the top gurus of Iskcon movement, Damo-dara Swami, stays mostly in Imphal since he's a Manipuri. He was injured on his hands by splinters. Security at Manipur's biggest shrine, the Sri Govindaji temple, was tightened following the Iskcon blast. Govindaji is another shrine where thousands of devotees gather on Janmasthami night. ========================================================================== http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/17/stories/2006081722030100.htm Here's the article, but you have to go to the URL to see a/the "bloody picture" of the scene of the attack: Grenade attack on ISKCON temple complex TRAGEDY ON JANMASHTAMI: Photo caption: Lying pell-mell are people injured in the blast at the ISKCON temple in Imphal, Manipur, on Wednesday during Janmashtami celebrations. - PHOTO: PTI Imphal: At least five persons were killed and 50, including five American and three French nationals, injured when suspected militants lobbed a grenade in the complex of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) here on Wednesday evening. The shrine was teeming with devotees on Janmashtami day. The toll might mount as the condition of some of those who suffered injuries was critical, sources in the Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital said. A 10-year-old boy and a 70-year-old woman were among the dead, the sources said. Hospital sources said the foreign nationals were among those who sustained splinter injuries in the blast at around 7 p.m. Several others, including ISKCON chief priest Damodar Das, were among those hit by splinters. It being the birthday of Lord Krishna, there was a huge gathering of people at the complex. No individual or organisation has claimed responsibility for the explosions, official sources said. However, the sources said investigation would be ordered to find out how militants infiltrated the complex where heavy security had been deployed. ``The temple was packed with Hindu devotees when unknown militants lobbed the grenade,'' said Army spokesman Col. Goswami. ``An unidentified woman and her son were among those killed,'' said a surgeon from a State-run hospital here. Police have cordoned off the area and have launched a search for those responsible. Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh, who visited the hospital, strongly condemned the incident. — PTI, Agencies ============================================================================ Text PAMHO:12080828 (76 lines) Anuttama (das) ACBSP (IC N.America) 16-Aug-06 23:28 (19:28 -0400) GBC Discussions [16376] AC Bhaktivaibhava Swami [28344] Braja Bihari (das) BJD (Vrindavana - IN) [145757] (received: 17-Aug-06 01:12) Lilasuka (das) BCS (GBC Secretariat) [73540] Cc: AS (Announcements Sweden) [570] (sender: Merudevi (dd) (Oxford - UK)) Cc: (ISKCON) CFF (Croatian Free Forum) [5486] (sender: Mayapur (das) SDHS (IN)) Cc: Free Forum (Announcements) [10478] Cc: ICC (Indian Continental Committee) [4670] (sender: Braja Bihari (das) BJD (Vrindavana - IN)) Cc: ICIC (ISKCON Communications in Croatia) [388] (sender: Mayapur (das) SDHS (IN)) Cc: India RGB (Regional Governing Body) [999] (sender: Braja Bihari (das) BJD (Vrindavana - IN)) Cc: (ISKCON) RFF (Regional Free Forum HR/SLO/YU/BiH/MAC) [2824] (sender: Mayapur (das) SDHS (IN)) Cc: X (Broadcasts) [348] (sender: Sriman Pandit (das) (Borehamwood - UK)) Cc: Amrta Gaurangi (dd) JPS (Penang - MY) [31241] (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Aniruddha (das) BJD (Melbourne - AU) [32038] Cc: "Dandavats.com" <assist.editor (AT) dandavats (DOT) com> (sent: 16-Aug-06 23:30) Cc: "Dato Dr Majumdar Ipoh" <madhuri (AT) pc (DOT) jaring.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Divyambara (dd) KKD [44981] Cc: "Dvija Gauranga dasa JPS" <dvijagauranga > (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Gauri (das) TKG (Bhaktivedanta Manor - UK) [36135] (forwarded: 16-Aug-06 23:40) Cc: "Giri Gopal dasa JPS" <sgiri (AT) tm (DOT) net.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Giri Gopal dasa JPS" <sgiri (AT) infineon (DOT) com> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "goloka candra dasa JPS" <planner (AT) pd (DOT) jaring.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Govinda Gaura dasa JPS" <kgovind (AT) tm (DOT) net.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Isana Gauranga dasa JPS" <isana_gauranga > (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "ISKCON Mentakab" <nitaigauramani > (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "ISKCON sitiawan" <iskcon_sitiawan > (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "ISKCON Teluk Intan" <iskconti (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Kripa Sindhu Krishna dasa JPS" <kripa108 (AT) tm (DOT) net.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Lal Krishna (Dasa) SDG (IC Resource Centre - UK) [68093] (received: 17-Aug-06 01:01) Cc: "madan manohar" <mmdas_108 > (sent: 17-Aug-06 01:03) (sender: Mayapur (das) SDHS (IN)) Cc: Madana-mohana (das) MG (Moscow - R) [44197] (received: 17-Aug-06 01:42) Cc: Maha Varaha (das) (Sri Jagannath Mandir, KL - MY) [15056] (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Merudevi (dd) (Oxford - UK) [49102] (received: 17-Aug-06 01:21) Cc: "Palaka Krishna dasa JPS" <palaka (AT) tm (DOT) net.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Paramananda Krishna dasa JPS" <paramanandakp > (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Punya Sloka dasa JPS" <punyaslokadasa (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Radha Madhavam dasa JPS" <radham (AT) pc (DOT) jaring.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Ravilocana dasa JPS" <ravilocan (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Santi Vardhana Caitanya dasa JPS" <svcdas > (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Saunaka Rsi (das) SDG (IC) (Oxford - UK) [30514] Cc: "Siddha Krishna dasa JPS" <r46545 (AT) onsemi (DOT) com> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Siva Caitanya (das) (Sri Jagannath Mandir, KL - MY) [877] (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "SSPT Office" <sspt (AT) earthlink (DOT) net> (sent: 16-Aug-06 23:30) Cc: "taruman kuantan" <taruman (AT) misteel (DOT) com.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: Urukrama (das) RNS (Ljubljana - SLO) [24295] (sender: Mayapur (das) SDHS (IN)) Cc: "Uttama Caitanya dasa JPS" <uttama (AT) tm (DOT) net.my> (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) Cc: "Vrajapati dasa" <tdsingh (AT) binstitute (DOT) org> (sent: 16-Aug-06 23:30) Cc: Vrajendranandan (das) (New Delhi - IN) [659] Cc: "Vyenkata 2" <vineetchander > (sent: 16-Aug-06 23:30) Cc: "Yaduraj Krishna dasa PVS" <yadurajpvs > (sent: 17-Aug-06 02:24) (sender: Simheswara (das) JPS (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia)) For: GBC Announcements Cc-For: ICE (ISKCON Communications Europe) Cc-For: ICELT (ICE Europe Leadership Team) Cc-For: Slovenian Forum (sender: Mayapur (das) SDHS (IN)) Cc-For: (NA) TP Forum Attached: manipur_bombing1.zip (17677 bytes) "Manipur Release 1" URGENT Manipur Bombing Media Release --------------------------- Dear Maharajas and Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Below and attached please find a media release with the most up to date information from Manipura. This is based primarily on a phone conversation with Ajit prabhu, president of the Manipura Temple, and it up to date as of 6 pm EDT USA. We request all of the devotees around the world to offer special prayers for the Vaishnavas in Manipura, especially four souls who have already passed away, and the 36 who were injured, including His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami. Devotees from around the world will be gathered to celebrate Janmastami and Vyasa-puja and we should show our support for our dear devotees in Manipur by offering special prayers for them throughout the day. Any inquiries from the media should be directed to your local ISKCON Communications directors, or other temple authorities, so that as factual information as possible can be shared with the concerned public. We will endeavor to keep you updated as events develop. Your servant, Anuttama dasa ISKCON Communications Minister ************************* AT LEAST FOUR DEAD IN TEMPLE BLAST Grenades thrown into crowd of Krishna worshippers on most sacred day of year DATE: August 16, 2006 Contact: Anuttama Dasa, Communications Minister - (301) 299-9707; Vineet Chander, North American spokesperson - (201) 925-4973; Manipur, India - A Krishna temple operated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was the victim of a bomb blast at approximately 7:00 pm India time on Wednesday, August 16th. Over a thousand worshippers were celebrating Janmastami, the most sacred observance of the year for devotees of Krishna, at a temple in the state of Manipur, in the northeast region of India. Unknown assailants threw a hand grenade into a crowd of people sitting under a large tent outside of the temple, watching a religious dance performance depicting Lord Krishna's pastimes. A second grenade, which did not go off, was found an hour later in the most crowded area of the temple, near an altar bearing sacred images of Krishna. According to ISKCON spokespersons in Manipur, four people, including a young girl, are confirmed dead. Approximately 36 people were injured, including five foreign nationals. An eight-year old girl, who had been playing the part of Krishna on stage when the bomb exploded, is among those severely injured. The troupe's dance teacher lost his leg in the blast. "We are sickened and greatly saddened by this horrible, vicious act," said Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON's Minister of Communications. "The victims were innocent devotees of God. There is no excuse for such wanton acts of violence. We pray for the victims and their families, and we pray that Lord Krishna will soon lift the terrible veil of hatred and violence that is covering our world." Among the injured, His Holiness Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Swami, an ISKCON leader in Manipur, was taken to a hospital, where he remains in stable condition. Victims are being treated in several area hospitals. Indian Army and government officials are trying to arrange a special morning air flight from Manipura to Calcutta, where better emergency care facilities are available. Otherwise, victims will have to wait for a regularly scheduled afternoon flight from the remote State in northeast India. According to the police, no militant groups or individuals have claimed responsibility for the bombing. The temple building did not sustain any damage. (Text PAMHO:12080828) ----- (Text PAMHO:12081379) ----- ------- End of Forwarded Message ------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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