27 September 2008 Delhi blast

The 27 September 2008 Delhi bombing in India’s second largest metropolis left three people dead and twenty-three more injured, on an infamous Saturday. The explosion occurred at 14:15 IST, in Mehrauli’s Electronic market called Sarai. Initially, there were reports of two persons, including a thirteen-year-old boy, named Santosh being killed in the attack. However, the next day the death toll rose to three. About 23 others were injured and were treated at AIIMS and Fortis Hospital. The bombing took place exactly two weeks after the five serial blasts in Delhi on 13 September 2008.

Eyewitnesses reported that the blast took place after two men in black dress and wearing helmets and riding a motorcycle dropped a tiffin box in which the bomb was placed. A thirteen-year-old boy named Santosh, who was running an errand for his uncle, to fetch a crate of eggs, picked up the box in an attempt to return it to the bikers, but they refused and fled. People nearby witnessed smoke coming out of the box and advised the boy to get away, but it was too late. The resulting explosion killed the boy and injured 18 others. Santosh's mother Rekha was inconsolable. The locals of Ward No.8, shopkeepers by profession, could not contain their anger at the poor security arrangements and investigation, in spite of the five horrific blasts which had taken place on 13th of September 2008, in four places in Delhi.The Washington Post reported that seven of them were in critical condition. The police said that the blast was similar to those near IIT Delhi and Lado Sarai in January and February respectively this year.

The Chief Minister of Delhi declared a compensation of Rs. 500,000 to the kin of the dead and Rs. 50,000 plus all costs of treatment to those injured. The blast was condemned by several Indian politicians including Pranab Mukherjee and Lal Krishna Advani. Main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accused the government of India of being soft on terror. Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "The Government is determined to wean out the culprits."