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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2008 Agartala bombings
| image =
| caption =
| location = [[Agartala]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|23.5 |91.16|region:IN-TR_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| date = 1 October 2008
| time = 21:30
| timezone = [[UTC]]+05:30
| type = 5 serial blasts<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.ibnlive.com/news/agartala-on-terror-map-as-5-blasts-rock-city--pics/74824-3.html| publisher = [[CNN-IBN]]|title = Agartala on terror map as 5 blasts rock city|author = Sen, Arijit|date = 2 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008}}</ref>
| fatalities = 4<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="TOI" />
| injuries = 76<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7647192.stm|title= Blasts 'kill four' in India state |last=Bhaumik|first=Subir|date=1 October 2008|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=1 October 2008}}</ref><ref name="TOI" />-100<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/01/asia/AS-India-Blasts.php|title=Blasts in India kill at least 2; 100 injured|date=1 October 2008|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=1 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=9dbd083c-dbc9-47cf-a23d-42eff704846b&&Headline=2+killed%2c+100+injured+in+Tripura+blasts|work = [[Hindustan Times]]|title = Two killed, 100 injured in Tripura blasts|date = 1 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008|author = Syed Sajjad Ali|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090101084614/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=9dbd083c-dbc9-47cf-a23d-42eff704846b&&Headline=2+killed%2C+100+injured+in+Tripura+blasts|archive-date = 1 January 2009|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref>
| perp =
| perps = [[All-Tripura Tiger Force]]
| susperp =
| weapons = [[bombs|Crude bombs]]
| motive =
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
In the '''2008 Agartala bombings''' at least 4 people were killed and a 100 injured on 1 October 2008 in a series of 5 blasts set off in [[Agartala]], capital of the Indian state of [[Tripura]], within 45 minutes, while two unexploded bombs were defused.<ref name="TOI"/><ref name = "IBN">{{cite news|url = http://www.ibnlive.com/news/4-low-intensity-blasts-in-agartala-over-35-injured/74782-3.html|title = Five blasts rock Agartala; 2 dead, 70 injured|publisher = CNN-IBN|date = 2 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008}}</ref>

This is the fourth series of blasts in India within a week, the other three being the [[27 September 2008 Delhi blast|27 September Delhi bombing]], and the [[29 September 2008 western India bombings|Malegoan and Modasa bombings]].

==Attack==
The blasts went off at Agartala's main shopping area Maharaja Ganja Bazar, Gobind Ballav Pant market, a busy Radhanagar bus stand, Agartala Motorstand, Battala<ref name="toi2"/> and Abhay Nagar localities. The first blast happened at Gol Bazar around 7:30 pm (IST), followed by two more at Radha Nagar Bus stand and G B Bazar, around 7:35 and 8:15 respectively. The fourth at Palace Compound.<ref name = "IBN"/><ref name="HT">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=9dbd083c-dbc9-47cf-a23d-42eff704846b&&Headline=2+killed%2c+40+injured+in+blasts+in+Agartala|title=2 killed, 40 injured in serial blasts in Agartala|date=1 October 2008|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|accessdate=1 October 2008}}</ref> An unidentified man was killed in the blast at Radhanagar bus stand while another person succumbed to injuries.<ref name="HT" /> Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said two persons riding a motorcycle were seen moving suspiciously at Radhanagar bus stand and the blast took place about three minutes after they left the area.<ref name="thaindian"/>

The wounded were rushed to [[G.B. Pant Medical College and Hospital]]. Tripura police spokesman Nepal Das said that two were high-density blasts, the third a low-density one.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Several_injured_in_serial_blasts_in_Agartala/articleshow/3550572.cms|title = Several injured in serial blasts in Agartala|work = The Economic Times|date = 1 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002072058/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Several_injured_in_serial_blasts_in_Agartala/articleshow/3550572.cms |archivedate = 2 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Though SP of West Agartala KV Sreejesh contradicted Das about the intensity of blasts, "All bombs were of low intensity. It was meant to create panic before the [[Durga puja]] celebrations."<ref name = "IBN"/>

===Follow-up===
On 5 October another live bomb was found and defused in a temple in Agartala. Police officials said the powerful bomb, prepared with ammonium nitrate and other explosive materials and connected to a cell-phone, was found placed in a small tin in a Manipuri temple at the Radhanagar area. The bomb was found on Mahasasthi, the first of the five-day Durga puja festival.<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=4f4fc01a-1add-4f38-be8b-b4d55ea4a3e2&&Headline=Bomb+found%2c+defused+in+a+temple Bomb found, defused in a temple]{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. ''Hindustan Times''</ref>

==Investigation==
The police suspect the involvement of [[Bangladesh]]-based terror group [[Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami]] (HuJI), a group which has been frequently blamed for attacks in [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]. HuJI which has been using Tripura as a transit route lately, as the state shares a porous 856-km border with the neighbouring country. Three suspected HuJI members were arrested in Agartala in the last two months.<ref name="TOI">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-02/india/27891361_1_serial-blasts-radhanagar-bus-tripura-police|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021204601/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-02/india/27891361_1_serial-blasts-radhanagar-bus-tripura-police|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2012|title=4 dead, 76 injured as serial blasts rip Tripura|date=1 October 2008|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=1 October 2008|first1=Manas|last1=Paul}}</ref> Tripura has long been a conduit for smuggling and terror merchandise, most violence in the state had been related to insurgencies of tribal groups.<ref name="TOI" />

Tripura's two main insurgent groups, the [[National Liberation Front of Tripura]] (NLFT) and the [[All-Tripura Tiger Force]] (ATTF) have not had a history of carrying out bomb attacks on civilians. However, a possible link between the two outfits and Bangladeshi Islamist groups like Huji had not been ruled out by security agencies. Tripura's long border with [[Bangladesh]], as well as the presence of senior leaders of both NLFT and ATTF in Bangladesh have increased the likelihood of logistical support to Huji.<ref name="thaindian">{{cite news|title = Agartala's hit by terror, Islamic militants suspected|url = http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/agartalas-hit-by-terror-islamic-militants-suspected_100102824.html|author = Pinaki Das| publisher = thaindian|date = 1 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008}}</ref>

Experts from the [[National Security Guards]] (NSG) began an investigation seeking to find the nature of explosives used. The team of NSG experts, led by Major [[Karam Bir]] from New Delhi, and a team of experts from the [[National Forensic Laboratory]] in Kolkata are investigating along with Tripura police officials.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=fae21738-f445-4240-88bf-1fadc509fbde&&Headline=Experts+hunt+for+clues+to+serial+blasts|work = Hindustan Times|title = Experts hunt for clues to Agartala serial blasts|date = 2 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008}}</ref>

[[DIG (Police Control)|DIG]], [[Nepal Das]] said six persons have been arrested in connection to the attacks. Four persons, including one of those seen on a bike at the Radhanagar bus stand shortly before the blast there, were arrested on the same night of the explosions. Six extremist of the banned terrorist group All Tripura Tiger Force were convicted by High court of Tripura.<ref name="toi2">{{cite news|url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-02/india/27942512_1_blast-sites-agartala-blasts-radhanagar-bus|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021204703/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-02/india/27942512_1_blast-sites-agartala-blasts-radhanagar-bus|url-status = dead|archive-date = 21 October 2012|title = Six arrested for Agartala blasts|date = 2 October 2008|work = [[The Times of India]]|accessdate = 2 October 2008}}</ref>

===Conspiracy===
''[[Times Now]]'' (the television arm of the ''[[Times of India]]'') quoted "highly placed intelligence officials" from the [[Research and Analysis Wing]] who claimed to have made a technical intercept of a communication between operatives of Bangladesh's intelligence agencies and the [[Inter Services Intelligence]] (ISI) of [[Pakistan]]. The sources said the intercept indicated ISI wanted its Bangladeshi counterpart to activate its operatives in [[Northeast India]]. Based on this, security agencies operating in the Northeast, like the [[Border Security Force]]s, the [[Shastra Seema Bal]] and provincial governments in the region were put on alert by the central intelligence agencies. The media outlet speculated that it wanted DGFI to specifically target Northeastern states to give terror a pan-India outlook and not allow the country's internal security establishment a chance to come to grip with the situation.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=17367|title = Tripura blasts linked to B'desh-ISI? |publisher = Times Now|date = 2 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081003193907/http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=17367 |archivedate = 3 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Reactions==
A spokesman from the [[Prime Minister's office|PMO]] said the PM Singh had spoken to the Chief Minister who had apprised Singh about the incident in his state. Singh, via the spokesman, also condemned the attacks on innocent people and expressed his sorrow over the incident.<ref>{{cite news|title = PM condemns Tripura blasts|url = http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/2D24B26FA1D80077652574D600144F1E?OpenDocument|date = 2 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008|publisher = Press Trust of India}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

The ruling [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India]]'s general secretary [[Prakash Karat]] said "The central government should extend all help to the state government in tracking down the culprits behind this attack especially in view of the fact that the state has international borders on its three sides." He also noted that the [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]] government in Tripura has registered significant success in tackling the extremist groups who used to resort to terrorist violence in the insurgency-racked state. He claimed that the explosions must be seen as an attempt to destabilise the situation. He also said he had spoken to Chief Minister [[Manik Sarkar]] to be updated on the situation.<ref>{{cite news|title = CPI(M) asks Centre to extend help to blast-hit Tripura | publisher = Zee News| url=http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=473515&sid=REG|date = 2 October 2008|accessdate = 2 October 2008|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110524154137/http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=473515&sid=REG |archivedate = 24 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of terrorist incidents, 2008]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ibnlive.com/photogallery/989.html Serial blasts in Agartala]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agartala bombings}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=21st-century mass murder in India, Improvised explosive device bombings in India, Mass murder in 2008, Terrorist incidents in India in 2008, Agartala, Religiously motivated violence in India, Islamic terrorism in India, History of Tripura (1947–present), Crime in Tripura, Islamic terrorist incidents in 2008
|description=
}}

[[Category:21st-century mass murder in India]]
[[Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in India]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2008]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2008]]
[[Category:Agartala]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:History of Tripura (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Crime in Tripura]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2008]]

2008 Agartala bombings - Revision history

MetaBOT at 16:58, 8 July 2023