Indian-American Muslim group condemns Delhi blasts

New York, Sep 14 (UNI) Indian Muslim Council-USA, a group that advocates the country's pluralist and tolerant ethos, has denounced in the ''strongest possible terms'' the bomb blasts in New Delhi and expressed condolences to the victims and their loved ones.

According to reports, coordinated serial blasts occurred in New Delhi, within a span of about an hour left nearly 30 people dead and scores injured.

''IMC-USA condemns this heinous act of mindless violence by cowards. Our sympathies are with the victims and their families,'' Mr Rasheed Ahmed, President of IMC-USA, said yesterday.

''Increasing incidents of terrorism in the recent past with the election around the corner raises suspicion of such blasts being orchestrated by communal forces bent on polarising the society to reap electoral gains. A thorough and transparent investigation should be made to bring the culprits to the book instead of rushing to hasty conclusions,'' he said.

IMC-USA called upon government and police authorities to put the welfare and security of people above communal politics and demonstrate political will in nabbing the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Preventing future acts of terror is possible only by conducting transparent and honest investigations to bring the culprits to the book and not through indiscriminate arrests and brutalisation of young Muslims as has been reported in news media, according to an IMC-USA statement.

Following the recent blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, there has been outcry by minorities and human rights activists that police were quick in ''scape-goating innocent Muslim youth'' than in solving the growth of terror networks, the statement said.

IMC-USA has 10 chapters across the US.

UNI XC MP MP RN0801