US offers help to probe Varanasi blast

NEW DELHI: US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer has condemned the “deplorable and cowardly” bomb attack in Varanasi and said his country was willing to provide assistance to investigate the crime.

Offering his condolences to the Indian people and to the victims, Ambassador Roemer described Varanasi as “a city well-known for the tolerance of its citizens and acceptance of religious diversity.”

A two-year-old girl was killed when an explosive device concealed in the steps leading to the Ganga went off Tuesday during the evening 'maha aarti' that was being watched by hundreds. “The perpetrators of this senseless act have accomplished nothing. Their message is one of death and destruction, which accomplishes nothing,” the American envoy said.

He said the US stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the people of India in condemning such meaningless violence and brutal attacks on the innocent. “We stand ready to provide any appropriate assistance to the Indian government to investigate this heinous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Roemer said he had visited Varanasi and was inspired by the aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganga. “The spirit of this great city that has been embedded into the soul of its citizens for the past 3,000 years by all faiths will overcome today's tragic event so that Varanasi continues to be a shining example to the world of peace, tolerance, and religious freedom.”