Aryakin2021 at 10:22, 14 December 2025

2025-12-14T10:22:25Z

New page

{{Short description|Bombings targetting lawyers in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox terrorist attack
| title = 23 November 2007 Uttar Pradesh Serial Blasts
| image = UttarPraseshSerialBlasts.png
| caption = Three cities of [[Uttar Pradesh]] where bombs were planted
| location = [[Lucknow]], [[Varanasi]] and [[Faizabad]], India
| target = [[District Courts of India]]
| date = 23 November 2007
| time-begin = 13:05
| time-end = 13:32
| timezone = [[UTC]]+5:30
| type = [[Bombing]]s
| weapons = [[Improvised explosive devices]] made with [[Ammonium nitrate]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/23court7.htm|title=Ammonium nitrate used in UP serial blasts|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> and [[RDX]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20071125/832278.html|title=Police clueless about Uttar Pradesh blasts, RDX use confirmed|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524145720/http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20071125/832278.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| fatalities = 18
| injuries = 81
| perps = [[Indian Mujahideen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/mujahideen-claims-responsibility-for-up-blasts/52882-3.html|title=Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility for UP blasts|date=23 November 2007|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref><br/>[[Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami]] (also suspected)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1112089|title=national - News - msn|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125164753/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1112089|archive-date=25 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| accused = 4
| convicted = 2
| verdict = [[Life sentence]]
| charges = [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]]
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
{{wikinews|Blasts rocked courts in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
Six consecutive serial blasts rocked [[Lucknow]], [[Varanasi]] and [[Faizabad]] courts in [[Uttar Pradesh]] on 23 November 2007 afternoon in a span of 25 minutes, in which reportedly many people were killed and several others injured.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070033741&ch=11/23/2007%202:07:00%20PM Blasts in Lucknow, Varanasi, Faizabad]</ref>

Bombs were explicitly targeted to the lawyers who were working in courts premises at these cities. The first blast occurred in Varanasi civil court and [[collectorate]] premises between 13:05 and 13:07 pm. Two successive blasts occurred in Faizabad [[District Courts of India|district court]] around 13:12 and 13:15, closely followed by one at Lucknow at 13:32.

In December 2019, 2 (Tariq Quasim and Mohammad Akhtar) of the 4 accused were given a life sentence by a special anti-terror court in Faizabad for carrying out the attacks under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]], while one was acquitted and another had died in police custody.<ref>{{cite web |title=Two get life term for 2007 twin bomb blasts in Faizabad court |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/two-get-life-term-for-2007-twin-bomb-blasts-in-faizabad-court/article30369829.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=21 December 2019}}</ref>

==Lucknow blasts==
In [[Lucknow]] two bomb were found one triggered panic after explosion and other unexploded powerful live bomb was deactivated by bomb disposal squads. Both the bombs were planted in [[bicycles]] in civil court premises. Lucknow blast was mildest among all other blasts in Faizabad and Varanasi.

==Varanasi blasts==
Three consecutive blasts claimed the most lives in [[Varanasi]]; at least 11 people were killed, including four lawyers and 42 injured. Bombs were tied to [[bicycles]] which exploded around 13:05–13:15.

==Faizabad blasts==
Two successive blasts occurred in [[Faizabad]], which were strongest among all. In these blasts at least four people were killed on the spot, and about 15 were injured.

==Terror mail just before blasts==
A little-known group [[Indian Mujahidin]] has claimed responsibility of these blasts. This group apparently sent an email to some private TV channels just five minutes before the blasts. This email says the [[jihad]] in [[India]] is in retaliation against the injustice to [[Muslims in India]], the demolition of the [[Babri Masjid]] and the [[2002 Gujarat violence|Gujarat riots]].

Indian Mujahideen also claimed responsibility for the [[29 October 2005 Delhi bombings|blasts in Delhi]] [[25 August 2007 Hyderabad bombings|and Hyderabad]] but refused any association with the attacks on the [[18 May 2007 Mecca Masjid bombing|Mecca Masjid]], the [[2007 Samjhauta Express bombings|Samjhauta Express]] and the [[2006 Malegaon blasts]].

==HuJI's hand suspected ==
Investigating agencies suspect the hand of [[Bangladesh]] based terrorist outfit [[Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami]](HuJI) pointsman who goes by the name Guru has emerged as a prime suspect. Intelligence agencies suspect that Guru may have planned the attacks executed by sleeper cells of [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] and [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] possibly under the banner of [[al-Qaida-fil-al-Hindi]] (meaning al-Qaida in India).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1114394|title=national - News - msn|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126054257/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1114394|archive-date=26 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Lawyers' strike to protest blasts==
Bar Council of [[Uttar Pradesh]] decided to go on strike to protest against these terrorist activities. In the state capital, lawyers moved about in groups in the court compounds and raised slogans against terrorism. The government has tightened security arrangements in the courts throughout the state after the Friday blasts. Lawyers from other states also join state bar council and observing the day as shok{{typo help inline|reason=similar to shook|date=July 2021}} diwas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2007/11/26/0711261538_blasts-lawyers.html |title=Lawyers strike in UP against blasts |access-date=26 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518085145/http://news.indiainfo.com/2007/11/26/0711261538_blasts-lawyers.html |archive-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Reactions==
*The [[Minister for Home Affairs (India)|Union Home Ministry of India]] said it's a terrorist strike meant to disturb [[communal harmony]].
* The [[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]], [[Mayawati]] condemned serial blasts and announced a compensation of Rs.200,000 to the next of kin to each of those killed and Rs.50,000 for those injured in the incidents. She also said that it is a complete failure of central [[intelligence agencies]].<ref>[http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/national/general/5_1_3929206.html धमाकों की साजिश सुनियोजित: मायावती] {{in lang|hi}}</ref>
* The [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Dr. Manmohan Singh]] condemned serial blasts and announced a compensation of Rs.100,000 from the [[The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund|Prime Minister's National Relief Fund]] to kin of each of those killed in blasts.
*British [[List of High Commissioners from the United Kingdom to India|High Commissioner to India]] [[Richard Stagg]] said in a statement ''"We condemn all forms of terrorism. It is a particularly worrying development that the judiciary and the legal system have been attacked. Our thoughts are with the affected families"''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20071123/82276.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025400/http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20071123/82276.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=13 July 2011|title=Latest news from India - India eNews|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Terrorism in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Uttar Pradesh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Uttar Pradesh bombings}}

[[Category:21st-century mass murders in India]]
[[Category:2007 mass murders]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2007|Uttar Pradesh serial blasts]]
[[Category:History of Uttar Pradesh (1947–present)]]
[[Category:History of Varanasi]]
[[Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2007]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian Mujahideen attacks]]
[[Category:Faizabad]]
[[Category:History of Lucknow]]

2007 Uttar Pradesh bombings - Revision history

Aryakin2021 at 10:22, 14 December 2025