2002 Raghunath temple attacks

Two bombings on Hindu temples in Jammu

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2001|

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2002|

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2019|

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2021|

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2023|

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2024|

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2025|

* Bijapur (January)
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* Pahalgam

2002 Raghunath Temple bombings refers to two fidayeen attacks in 2002 on the Raghunath Temple in Jammu in India. Built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1860, the Raghunath temple is dedicated to Hindu God Rama.

Part of a series on

Violence against Hindus
in independent India
Issues

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Incidents

* 1982 Bijon Setu massacre
* 1983 Khoirabari massacre
* 1983 Dhilwan bus massacre
* 1986 Kashmir riots
* 1987 Fatehabad bus massacre
* 1987 Lalru bus massacre
* 1990 Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus
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* 1993 Kishtwar massacre
* 1998 Chamba massacre
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* 1998 Chapnari massacre
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* 2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre
* 2000 Murder of Shanti Kali
* 2001 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre
* 2001 Kishtwar massacres
* 2002 Godhra train burning
* 2002 Qasim Nagar massacre
* 2002 Akshardham Temple attack
* 2002 Amarnath attack
* 2002 Raghunath temple attacks
* 2002-03 Marad massacres
* 2016–17 targeted killings in Punjab, India
* 2017 Amarnath Yatra massacre
* 2024 Reasi attack
* 2025 Pahalgam attack

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## March attack

[edit]

The first attack occurred on 30 March 2002 when two suicide bombers attacked the temple. Eleven people including three security personnel were killed and 20 were injured.[1] The attack occurred around 10:20 AM when the terrorists arrived, fired at the guards, and killed them on the spot. The attackers stormed the temple, threw a grenade, and fired indiscriminately at the worshippers. After expending his ammunition one of the attackers who was wearing a suicide vest blew himself up.[2] Then Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Omar Abdullah, blamed Pakistan for the terrorist attacks on the Raghunath temple in Jammu and ruled out withdrawing troops from the border, saying Islamabad had done nothing to warrant it.[3]

## November attack

[edit]

A second attacked occurred on 24 November 2002[4][5] when two suicide bombers stormed the temple and killed 14 devotees and injured 45 others.[6][7] Witnesses said terrorists hurled grenades and fired indiscriminately on the heavily guarded Raghunath temple.[8][9] India blamed a Pakistan-based militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, for the attack. Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani of India blamed the chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed for the attack. He was released shortly prior to the attack by the government of Pakistan.[10]

The personnel of Central Reserve Police Force Yatindra Nath Rai, Assistant Commandant, Dev Singh, Head Constable, E.G. Rao, Head Constable, T. A. Singh, Constable, and Late K. K. Pandey, Constable displayed conspicuous gallantry, courage and devotion to duty of a high order.[11] Late K K Pandey was posthumously awarded the President's Police Medal for Gallantry. Yatindra Nath Rai, Dev Singh, E. G. Rao and T. A. Singh were awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry.[11][12]

## See also

[edit]

List of terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "J&K: 6 acquitted in Raghunath temple attack case". rediff.com.
2. ^ Foreign ultras storm Raghunath Temple, The Tribune, 2001-03-31
3. ^ "The Hindu : Omar Abdullah blames Pak. for Raghunath temple attack". hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
4. ^ "CNN.com - Heavy firing at Kashmir temple - Nov. 24, 2002". CNN.
5. ^ 10 Killed in Attack on Temple in Kashmir, The New York Times, 2002-11-25
6. ^ "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Kashmir temples hit by gunbattles". bbc.co.uk.
7. ^ "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Kashmir temple reopens". bbc.co.uk.
8. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News". tribuneindia.com.
9. ^ Terrorists attack Jammu temples, 12 dead, The Times of India, 2002-11-24
10. ^ Pasricha, Anjana. "Security Increased in Jammu City Following Attack on Hindu Temple". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
11. ^ a b Printed in The Gazette of India, 17 December 2005
12. ^ "Orders, Decorations and Medals - Medals by Country - Medals of India". jeanpaulleblanc.com.

## External links

[edit]

* In pictures: Kashmir temple attack, BBC, 220-11-25
* Website of the Temple

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* 2002 Raghunath temple attacks
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Observances|

* 19 January: Jammu and Kashmir Exodus Day
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* 22 October: Jammu and Kashmir Black Day (Invasion Day)
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Related|

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* Kashmir: The Case for Freedom
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