Two Indians killed in Nepal church blast

Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, May 23 (PTI) At least two Indian nationals, a
teenage girl and a woman, were killed and 15 people injured
today when a powerful bomb went off in a Catholic church here,
the first such attack targeting a Christian shrine in Nepal.

The explosion took place at the Church of the Assumption
located in Dhobighat area in the Nepalese capital at 9.30 am
local time, police said.

The deceased were identified as Alisiya Joseph (15) and
Dipa Paitri (31), both hailing from Patna in Bihar, they said.
Fifteen other people, including at least four Indian
nationals, were also injured in the blast, police said.

The incident occurred when the worshippers were
performing morning prayers in the church situated in Lalitpur
district.

The injured Indians were identified as Sweety Singh,
Binayak Kunwar, Buddhalaxmi Joseph and Father Rakesh -- all
from Patna. They have been admitted to the nearby Patan
Hospital and Alka Hospital.

Police suspect the involvement of the Nepal Defence Army,
a lesser known Hindu fundamentalist armed group, in the blast
as a leaflet belonging to the outfit was recovered from the
site.

Nepal was declared a secular state two and a half years
ago after the success of the popular uprising that restored
democratic rights ending absolute monarchy and converted the
Hindu kingdom into a federal republic.

Saturday's attack was the first such strike targeting a
church in Nepal. PTI