No justification for such senseless acts of violence: President Mukherjee on Dhaka attack

New Delhi: Asserting that India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Dhaka and said that there can be no justification for such senseless acts of violence. "#PresidentMukherjee strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Dhaka yesterday. I am deeply saddened at the loss of life and injuries caused to innocent civilians in this dastardly attack #PresidentMukherjee," the President said in a series of tweets. "India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations #PresidentMukherjee. India believes that there can be no justification for such senseless acts of violence #PresidentMukherjee," he further said. President Mukherjee emphasized that the people of India stand by the people of Bangladesh at this difficult hour and share their grief.

Earlier today, stating that Bangladesh has not seen an attack similar in both scale and devastation as the one in Dhaka last night, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Saturday, that the horrific episode represented a higher level of action by the terrorists. Speaking to ANI here, Shringla said that he paid a visit to military hospital and offered his condolences to the parents of Tarishi Jain, the Indian girl who was a victim of the terrorist attacks. "Obviously terrorism has taken its toll and I think the world has to stand united. As our Prime Minister has said, terrorism is an issue that concerns all countries, we all have to work together to fight the scourge of terrorism," he stated. Meanwhile, condemning the attack which killed 20 people including one Indian, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and expressed his condolences. "The attack in Dhaka has pained us beyond words. I spoke to PM Sheikh Hasina & strongly condemned the despicable attack," the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. Bereaved family members of 19-year-old Tarishi Jain, mourned her death after she was killed, as she was taken hostage by the gunmen in an upscale cafe Holey Artisan in Dhaka's diplomatic zone last evening. Twenty people including Tarishi were killed with sharp weapons by the gunmen after taking the diners hostage. Sirish Jain, Tarishi's cousin condemned the attack saying that it was a senseless act and said that he had received the news of the tragedy from the media. 20 people were killed by the gunmen who attacked the upscale cafe Holey Artisan and taking the diners in hostage in the diplomatic area of Dhaka last evening. The 12-hour-long hostage crisis at the cafe popular with foreigners ended after a two hour long assault by armed forces' commandos killing six gunmen. One assailant has been held by the security forces. Though it was reported that the Islamic State claimed responsibility on the attack, the U.S. State Department has said it cannot yet be confirmed. The Islamic State has claimed a number of past attacks in Bangladesh through its media affiliates, but the government has consistently denied presence of the militant in the country.