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Dalai Lama offers prayer for Mumbai terror victims

Tibet Sun

Indian and foreign guests rush out of the Taj Mahal hotel — the site of one of the shootouts with terrorists — during a gunfight in Mumbai, late 26 November 2008. Up to 155 people were killed and around 100 more wounded in coordinated attacks by gunmen in India’s commercial capital Mumbai, Indian media reported on 28 November, with two five-star hotels among the targets of gunmen armed with powerful assault rifles and grenades. AFP/Getty Images/Indranil Mukherjee/India

The Dalai Lama while offering prayers expressed deep shock and sadness over the audacious terrorist attacks in Mumbai since Wednesday night that resulted in the loss of many lives and injury of many others.

He said he stands in solidarity with the people of India, particularly the people of Mumbai, at this time of confronting the menace of terrorism and violence.

“I am deeply saddened and shocked by the series of deadly attacks in different parts of Mumbai that has resulted in the loss of many precious lives and injury to many others,” the Dalai Lama wrote in a letter sent to the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh on 27 November.

“I would like to convey my deep condolences to you and through you to the members of the bereaved families as well as to all those affected by these dastardly acts,” he said.

He said that the people of India would be resilient at this critical time and will not be deterred by such anti-human activities.

Officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala congregated to offer prayers and mourn the death of the victims.

The attacks occurred at around 9 p.m. on 26 November in major hotels and railway stations in Mumbai, the financial capital of India.

The number of dead since Wednesday night has gone up to 155, while the number of injured are more than 300, Maharashtra deputy chief minister and state home minister R.R. Patil said on Friday, according to reports.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor said at least 12 terrorists had come to Mumbai from Gujarat. The suspected militants belong to Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Copyright © 2008 Tibet Sun

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