Muslims march against terror on 1st anniversary of Varanasi blasts

Varanasi, Mar 7 (UNI) An anti-terrorism march was carried out by Muslim women here today to mark the first anniversary of March 7, 2006 twin blasts which killed 18 people, besides wounding over 100 others.

The march titled ''India Harmony'' was carried out under the banner of a local NGO Vishal Bharat Sansthana from Shastri Nagar Park to the Sankatmochan temple, which was rocked by the powerful blast on 'Black Tuesday' last year.

The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students, who painted terrorism as a snake and conducted its mock execution at the Assi Ghat, joined the Muslim women in their anti-terror March. The fine arts students of the University also painted pictures narrating the gory tale of the twin blasts and prayed that the pluralistic fabric of the city remained intact forever.

Activists of the Sonia Gandhi Brigade organised a 'Shanti Yajna' at the Rajendra Prasad Ghat.

The families of the twin blasts victims' also paid homage to their loved ones outside the Sankatmochan Temple, where they were killed.

The special prayer was organised at 1820 hrs, the time when the blast had rocked the 16th century temple.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists and Prerna Samiti organised 'Deepdan' at the Assi and Rajendra Prasad Ghats respectively by lighting candles and earthen lamps in the memory of those killed by the twin blasts.

A special evening 'Ganga Arti' was also performed by the Gangotri Sewa Samiti at the Dashwashamedh Ghat to pay rich tributes to the victims.

The blasts had rocked the Sankatmochan Temple and the Varanasi Cantonment railway station within a span of 15 minutes on March 7, 2006.

UNI