Out on bail, Ajmer blast convict accorded hero’s welcome

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AHMEDABAD: A Hindutva activist, convicted in the Ajmer dargah blast case felicitated in his hometown of Bharuch in Gujarat by hundreds of people including the police and members of the VHP, RSS, and BJP.

Bhavesh Patel was one of the convicts in the blast at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer in the Holy month of Ramadan, at the time of Roza Iftaar on October 11, 2007, in which three pilgrims dead and 15 others injured.

Bhavesh arrived on Sunday at Bharuch, his hometown, after Rajasthan High Court granted bail last week.

He was treated like a hero by the local police officials as well as members of the saffron outfits of VHP, RSS, and BJP along with scores of people.

As the dreaded terrorist, dressed in saffron robes and a turban, walked towards his residence hundreds of people welcomed him by showering rose petals, garland and shouted slogans in his support.

YouTube video

The hero’s welcome evoked angry reactions on social media platforms.

Music director Vishal Dadlani wrote, “Some people openly celebrate terrorists now. This has never happened before in my lifetime. This is not my country. Shame on all of them, …and on us, for letting them exist and giving them the power to do this sorta thing.”