Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh condemned the suicide attack at a Church in Peshawar, Pakistan saying attacking innocent worshipers of violence even more tragic.
Manmohan Singh said, "The horrific suicide attack at a Church in Peshawar is yet another deeply disturbing manifestation of the evil forces of terror. That the attack took place at a place of worship and claimed the lives of dozens of innocent worshipers makes this senseless act of violence even more tragic".
"Such barbaric acts are against the tenets of every religion. India condemns the terrorist attack in Peshawar in the strongest terms. We convey our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish speedy recovery to the injured," he added.
The twin suicide bombings that occurred on Sunday claimed 81 lives and injured more than 100. The dead include 34 women and seven children in the attack at the historic 130-year-old white-stone All Saints Church at the Kohati Gate area of the city.
The two bombers, each carrying around six kg of explosives around their bodies, detonated themselves amidst the congregation mass of 500-600 worshippers in the church, a senior government official told reporters.
The provincial government has announced Rs.500,000 each for the next of kin of those killed in the blast and Rs.200,000 each for those injured.
The Sindh government has also announced same compensation amount for those affected by the blasts.
The attack has sparked strong protests across Pakistan.
Members of the Christian community took to the streets demanding stern action against the perpetrators of the deadly act and urged the government to provide protection to the country's Christian population.
The Christian community also held demonstrations in parts of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Hyderabad and Quetta, the report said.
Enraged protesters in Peshawar placed the bodies of the blast victims on roads.
Police vehicles were also torched by the angry mob forcing the security personnel to use teargas.
The relatives of the victims also protested outside the city's Lady Reading Hospital, where the injured were taken Sunday, breaking windowpanes of the hospital.
They protested against the shortage of beds and absence of doctors. Some of them said that many people died because of the hospital's negligence.
Protesters also blocked traffic in parts of Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan Gujranwala and Rahimyar Khan.
The provincial government, Bishop Churches of Pakistan and several political parties have announced three days of mourning to condemn the blasts.
(with inputs from IANS and ANI)
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