The chief ministers of Meghalaya and Nagaland on Sunday vehemently condemned attack on churches and killing of innocent lives in Sri Lanka.
According to media reports, at least 207 people were killed and hundreds of other people were injured in eight blasts that rocked churches and hotels in and just outside Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo on Easter Sunday.
This is the worst chaos Sri Lanka has seen since a bloody civil war ended a decade ago.
Sri Lankan defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene described the blasts as a terrorist attack by religious extremists and told reporters on Sunday evening that seven suspects had been arrested. However, no one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts.
While condemning the attack, the Meghalaya chief minister and national president of National People’s Party (NPP), Conrad K. Sangma on his Twitter handle stated: “Condemn the attack on Churches and innocent lives which took place in Sri Lanka.”
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“May the Almighty give courage to the members of the bereaved families to be able to bear the loss and the strength to forgive those who have acted so mercilessly,” added Conrad Sangma.
Condemn the attack on Churches and innocent lives which took place in Sri Lanka. May the Almighty give courage to the members of the bereaved families to be able to bear the loss and the strength to forgive those who have acted so mercilessly.
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) April 21, 2019
The terror attack on churches in Sri Lanka has also been condemned by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
Expressing his shock over the attack, Rio on his Twitter handle on Sunday stated: “I am shocked and saddened by news of bombings in hotels and churches in SriLanka.”
While condemning the attack the Nagaland chief minister stated: “I condemn this heinous act of mindless violence, targeting innocent people and worshippers attending #EasterSunday service. My thoughts and prayers for all those affected.”
I am shocked and saddened by news of bombings in hotels and churches in #SriLanka. I condemn this heinous act of mindless violence, targeting innocent people and worshippers attending #EasterSunday service. My thoughts and prayers for all those affected. @RW_UNP @MaithripalaS
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) April 21, 2019
As per media reports, the nearly simultaneous first six blasts on Sunday morning toppled ceilings and blew out windows at a famous Catholic church in Colombo, the national capital of Sri Lanka, and at three luxury hotels in the city.
The two other bombings took place at St. Sebastian Catholic church in Negombo, a majority Catholic town north of Colombo and at the Protestant Zion church in the eastern town of Batticaloa.
The footage of the bombings showed people dragging the injured out of blood-splattered pews.
In the blasts, three police officers were also killed while conducting a search operation at a suspected safe house in Dematagoda, on the outskirts of Colombo.
At least two more blasts occurred after police moved into Dematagoda with the occupants of a safe house apparently blasting explosives to prevent arrest.