Church leaders in India have expressed deep sorrow over the reported loss of 13 lives in a powerful explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort on the evening of Nov. 10. The explosion took place around 6:52 p.m. inside a car near a traffic signal in a crowded area, injuring around 24 people and damaging other vehicles, said Federal Home Minister Amit Shah
Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, which is suspected to have been triggered either by a CNG (compressed natural gas) cylinder or a low-intensity improvised explosive device (IED). Officials have yet to formally confirm the cause of the blast or name suspects, but they appear to be treating the explosion as a potential act of terrorism, not just a criminal or accidental blast, according to media reports.
The entire area around the 17th-century Mughal fortress, visited by thousands of tourists every day, and where Indian prime ministers give their Independence Day speeches each year, has been sealed off. India’s national capital and other major cities have been placed on high security alert.
“The Catholic Church in New Delhi joins others to condole the lives lost in the blast and pray for the speedy recovery of the people who are injured,” said Father Savarimuthu Sankar, spokesperson of Delhi archdiocese. He hoped that the federal government would take all the necessary steps to uncover the truth behind the blast and maintain peace. “The Church has always stood for peace and promotes brotherhood among all faiths, and hopes innocent lives are not lost in mindless violence,” Sankar said.
A C Michael, the convenor of the ecumenical United Christian Forum, said civil society needs to work closely with the government of the day to ensure social harmony in the country in difficult times. “It is the responsibility of the incumbent government to maintain harmony in the country,” said the Catholic lay leader, who is a former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission. Michael said that politicians should avoid making statements that “create unnecessary divisive feelings among the citizenry.”
