Incident Summary:

03/30/2002: Two Islamic militants attacked the 150-year-old Hindu Raghunath Temple in Indian-controlled Jammu. The assailants detonated several grenades directly outside the temple as well as shot passersby and worshippers with AK-47 rifles. Four policemen, four civilians and the two attackers were killed. Twenty more people, predominantly civilians, were wounded. The Islamic Front, a Kashmiri rebel group based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a phone call to the Associated Press after the incident, Bilal Beg, who claimed to have been the group’s leader, stated that the attack was in retaliation to the violence against Muslims in India.

GTD ID:
200203300001

When:
2002-03-30

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Jammu and Kashmir

City:
Jammu

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilians
Specific Description Indiscriminate civilians (Hindu worshippers) in Jammu
Nationality of Target India
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Hindu Temple
Specific Description Hindu Raghunath Temple in Indian-controlled Jammu
Nationality of Target India
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Grenade
Firearms Automatic Weapon
Weapon Details
AK-47 assault rifles and handheld grenades were used in the incident.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?Yes
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Islamic Front Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Call (post-incident))
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 2
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 10 Fatalities / 20 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 10
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 2
Total Number of Injured 20
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
“Grenade Attack Kills 10, Injures 20 in Kashmir,” The Associated Press, March 31, 2002.
“Terrorists attack Hindu temple in Kashmir; at least 10 people killed,” All India Radio Home News Service, March 30, 2002.
Binoo Joshi, “Kashmir Firefight Leaves 10 Dead at Hindu Temple,” Independent on Sunday, March 31, 2002.